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| |  | | Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo | | | context : | Central African Republic  | | judgement place : | ICC | | status : | Indicted | | particulars : | Arrested on 24th May 2008 in Belgium following the issuing of an arrest warrant by the International ICC on 23rd April 2008; new warrant issued on 10 June 2008; transferred to the ICC on 2 July 2008 | | position : | Leader of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) |
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| | | | Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was born on 4th November 1962 at Bokada, in the province of Ecuador, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Allegedly an ethnic Ngwaka, he was the son of a millionaire and close to former President Mobutu Sese Seko. Married and father of five children, he is one of the richest men in DRC.
After studying at Boboto College in Kinshasa, Jean-Pierre Bemba pursued graduate studies in Belgium. He obtained a degree in commercial and consular affairs at the Catholic Institute of Higher Commercial Studies (ICHEC) from Brussels. He then returned to the DRC where he took over the running of the family business. In 1990 he created various new businesses, particularly in the telecommunications, aviation and audiovisual industries.
In 1997, Jean-Pierre Bemba went into exile following the seizure of power by Laurent-Desire Kabila’s forces.
He created the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) and its armed wing, the Liberation Army of Congo (ALC), in 1998
The MLC, which between 1998 and 2003 was also involved in the civil war in the DRC, participated between October 2002 and March 2003 in the conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) between the troops of President Ange-Felix Patassé and the rebellion waged by François Bozizé, later president of the RCA. The MLC combatants (composed largely of 'Banyamulenge', Congolese of Rwandan origin) were allegedly called in as reinforcements by Patassé’s troops. Other foreign forces also allegedly took part in the conflict, including Chadian mercenaries.
It is alleged that, during this period, the MLC troops committed torture, rape, and attacks on human dignity, such as humiliating and degrading treatment. It is also alleged that the troops took part in looting, particularly in the cities of Mongoumba and Bossangoa and in a city denominated “PK12”. They are also allegedly responsible for attacks against the civilian population and torture and rape of a widespread and systematic nature.
Jean-Pierre Bemba, at the time the President and Commander-in-Chief of the MLC, made all the political and military decisions of the MLC, and was allegedly aware of atrocities committed by his troops. It is also alleged that the military assistance provided by Bemba to Patassé was part of a common plan. In return for the MLC’s assistance, Bemba would receive strategic support from Patassé to ensure that the RCA would not be allied with the Kinshasa government.
The MLC troops left the CAR in March 2003.
In June 2003, after the civil war in the DRC, Jean-Pierre Bemba was chosen to represent the MLC within the transitional government. From 17th July 2003 to 2006, he occupied one of the four posts of vice-president.
In October 2006, Bemba put himself forward for the presidential election. He received 20% of votes in the first round, coming second behind Joseph Kabila. He lost the second round with only 42% of the votes. As a result of this failure, Jean-Pierre Bemba appealed to the Supreme Court. The Court rejected his charges.
On 19 January 2007, Jean-Pierre Bemba was elected senator. He positioned himself openly against the government of Kabila and refused to allow the members of his personal guard integrate into the national army.
After several weeks of violent clashes between his supporters and government forces, Jean-Pierre Bemba left the DRC for Portugal on 11th April 2007, escorted by UN forces, officially for health reasons.
In June 2007 the DRC launched an arrest warrant against him for high treason.
Jean-Pierre Bemba was arrested on 24th May 2008 in Brussels, Belgium, following the lifting of a sealed arrest warrant issued the previous day by the International Criminal Court (ICC). | |     click for more... | | Trial Watch would like to remind its users that any person charged by national or international authorities is presumed innocent until proven guilty. | |  |  | | nationality : | | | Congo, the democratic republic of the | | | date of birth : | | | 04.11.1962 | | | last time seen : | | | Brussels, Belgium | | | period of charges : | | | 25.10.2002 - 15.03.2003 | | | charges : | | | Crimes against humanity
War crimes | | | profile last modified : | | | 03.07.2008 |
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