Jean-Pierre Bemba

Biography

He is resulting from the entourage of the former president Mobutu Sese Seko to which he is related (his/her sister is the wife of one of wire of the former president, Nzanga Mobutu). Father of five children, this man measuring 1,90 m made his secondary studies with the Collège Boboto with Kinshasa, and his higher learning with Brussels in Belgium where he is laid off in commercial and consular sciences of ICHEC at the side of Olivier Kamitatu. In the Nineties, it launches out in telecommunication, aviation and the audio-visual one by creating various companies.

In 1997, it is exiled at the time of the seizure of power by the Alliance of the Democratic forces for the Release of Congo ( AFDL ) carried out by Laurent-Desired Kabila. In 1998, it created the Liberation movement of Congo ( MLC ) and its armed wing, the Armed with Release of Congo ( ALC ) with the support of the troops Uganda ises.

In 2002, it is strongly suspected of continuing to acquire weapons. It would have allowed its militia some interventions on other side of the border, in Central African Republic, with the colonel Kadhafi, with an aim of supporting the mode of Angel-Felix Patassé. At the time of these interventions, its underpaid famous militia were devoted to exactions: flights, rapes, plunderings.

In 2003, he contradicts the charges of Cannibalisme on behalf of his militia emitted by the the United Nations. He dislocates their functions the militiamans who were shown to have constrained under the threat of weapons of the women Pygmy S to cook then to eat their husbands. One year later of other Pygmies who will affirm being those which were supposed to be eaten will appear alive before the press, creating a doubt about the patronyms. It is the business of “Mambasa”.

It is named vice-president of the Transition government within the framework of the peace process the June 30th 2003.

Candidate with presidential of October 2006, it arrives at the first tower at the second place behind Joseph Kabila Kabange with more 20 % of the votes cast. It carried out good scores in its area of origin Ecuador, but also with Kinshasa mainly in the popular quarters and the Low-Congo. According to certain rumors, deferred in the Potential, Bemba would have used 20 $US million for its countryside. It is presented in the form of a the son of the country compared to his opponent Joseph Kabila treated mupaya (foreign), of illegitimate child.

August 21st, 2006, whereas Jean-Pierre Bemba is in company of ambassadors of the Member States of the International committee of Accompaniment of the Transition (the United States, Great Britain, France and Belgium by Johan Swinnen), as well as chief of the Mission of the United Nations as a Democratic republic of Congo and the American diplomat William Swing, it escapes a bombardment from its residence by the Presidential guard. Two investigations were opened by the two involved parts (forces of Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba) to determine the reasons of the bombardment. Two assumptions clash: a blow assembled by the militiamans of Bemba who would have kidnapped two police officers in order to cause a fixing in the presence of the Westerners; or an attack deliberated and a skid on the soldiers of Kabila, even an attempted murder.

At the court of the 2nd Turn, it arrives at the head at Kinshasa, in Ecuador, Low-Congo, Bandundu and both Kasaï. However, at the national level, it obtains only 42% of the votes cast. It makes several appeal near the supreme Court, but it does not obtain win.

Jean-Pierre Bemba was elected senator at the time of the senatorial elections of the 19 January 2007.

Violences of March 2007 and exile

After his defeat vis-a-vis Joseph Kabila at the time of presidential of October 2006, Jean-Pierre Bemba had committed himself carrying out a “republican opposition” to the government of this one. Its refusal to melt its personal guard within the governmental army, to at the beginning of 2007, led it to a direct confrontation with the capacity.

A dispute with the close guard of Bemba led the March 22nd 2007 to engagements around the residence of Bemba (Promenade of the Racket to Gombe) and of its offices (medium of the Boulevard of June 30th).

The guards of Bemba had not obeyed an ultimatum whose term had been fixed at the March 15th to accept their incorporation with the regular army, fearing for the safety of Jean-Pierre Bemba. Bemba called then with the cease-fire, and found refuge in the embassy of South Africa. With the continuation of the engagements the March 23rd, a mandate of stops was launched against Jean-Pierre Bemba from now on shown high treason. These confrontations made more than 200 died in Kinshasa.

Jean-Pierre Bemba left the Democratic republic of Congo on April 11th, 2007 to go to Portugal, officially to look after an old wound with the leg there.

International justice

Jean-Pierre Bemba is the target of international justice since many years. In 2003, a European court of justice condemned it by contumacy to one year of prison firm for “draft of human beings”.

The International penal court wishes to hear it on a business of war crimes in Central Africa, in 2002 and 2003.

The United Nations also showed the militiamans of Jean-Pierre Bemba of rapes in series, plunderings, of massacres, even of cannibalism.

Works

Jean-Pierre Bemba is the author of the book the choice of freedom to the editions Venus, Gbadolite.

See too

Kabila-Bemba Tensions in 2006 and 2007 Political
of the Democratic republic of Congo
Political parties of the Democratic republic of Congo

External bonds

French Site of the MLC
MLC Benelux - President of the MLC
Jean-Pierre Bemba, a career in democratic danger
Congo - the weapons of Kadhafi
the cases of cannibalism shake the DRC

References

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