Jean-Pierre Bemba

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Jean-Pierre Bemba (born 4 November 1962) was one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2003 to 2006. He was sworn in on 17 July 2003. Bemba also leads the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), a rebel group turned political party. He received the second highest number of votes in the 2006 presidential election. In January 2007 he was elected to the Senate.

Contents 1 Background 2 Involvement in the Central African Republic 3 Presidential election 4 March 2007 violence 5 Notes and references

[edit] Background

Bemba is one of the richest men in the Congo, with an estimated fortune of several hundred million dollars. His businesses have included portable radios, aviation and private television stations. His father was a businessman who was successful under former Zairian dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, and one of his sisters is married to Mobutu's son Nzanga, who was also a candidate in the 2006 presidential elections.^[1]

[edit] Involvement in the Central African Republic

In 2002, President Ange-Félix Patassé of the Central African Republic invited the MLC to come to his country and put down a coup attempt; human rights activists have accused MLC fighters of committing atrocities against hundreds of suspected rebel sympathizers in the course of this conflict. In March 2003, Patassé was ousted, and the government that replaced him pressed charges against Patassé and Bemba in September 2004. International arrest warrants were issued, but because the new government was unable to have him arrested, the matter was referred to the International Criminal Court, whose Prosecutor has yet to decide whether an investigation needs to be opened. ^[2]

[edit] Presidential election

Bemba was one of 33 candidates who ran in the Congolese presidential election on 30 July 2006. His main campaign slogan — "One Hundred Percent Congolese" — was widely perceived as an attack on frontrunner President Joseph Kabila. ^[3]

During the campaign, he denied allegations of cannibalism, after opponents claimed that he had eaten pygmies during fighting in 2002. "These are lies which have come from the highest levels of government...The pygmies are alive and well" he responded. ^[4]

Bemba received substantial support in the western, Lingala-speaking portion of the country, including the capital, Kinshasa.^[5] Following the vote there was significant tension as to whether the results would give Kabila a majority of the vote, in which case there would not be a second round against Bemba, who was perceived as Kabila's main opponent.^[6] However, according to results announced on 20 August, Kabila won 44% of the vote and Bemba won 20%,^[5] and therefore the two faced each other in a second round, held on October 29. The electoral commission announced the official results on November 15, naming Kabila the winner with 58.05% of the vote; Bemba's supporters have alleged fraud.^[7]

On November 27, 2006, the Supreme Court of the DRC rejected the fraud charges brought by Bemba, and confirmed Kabila as the new elected Congolese President.^[8] A day later, Bemba said that he disagreed with the court's decision, but that "in the greater national interest and to preserve peace and to save the country from chaos and violence", he would participate in the system by leading the opposition.^[9][10] He did not attend Kabila's swearing-in ceremony on December 6. On December 8, the MLC announced that Bemba would run for a Senate seat from Kinshasa in the January 2007 senatorial election,^[11] and he succeeded in winning a seat.^[12]

[edit] March 2007 violence

A dispute over Bemba's personal guard led to an outbreak of fighting near Bemba's residence in Kinshasa on March 22, 2007.^[13] Bemba's guard did not obey a March 15 deadline to register at a military base in order to be incorporated into the military, with a spokesperson for Bemba citing concerns about his security.^[14] In the fighting, a number of people, including both soldiers and civilians, were reported killed. Bemba called for a ceasefire and negotiations and took refuge in the South African embassy.^[15] As fighting continued on March 23, the state prosecutor issued a warrant for Bemba's arrest, accusing him of high treason.^[16][17] Although Bemba enjoys immunity as a senator, the prosecutor said that he would ask parliament to remove it. Bemba blamed the government for the fighting, said that it sought to kill him, and said that he would not surrender.^[17] Later on the same day, government forces were reported to have regained control of most of the city.^[18] According to one estimate, up to 600 people were killed in the fighting.^[19]

On March 26, Kabila said that security could not be guaranteed through negotiation and referred to the importance of restoring order. He claimed Bemba's guards had tried to take over Kinshasa. Bemba warned of the potential for dictatorship and said that he might go into exile due to his security concerns.^[20] He said that the fighting had started as a result of an assassination attempt against him by soldiers who had surrounded his house.^[21] Hundreds of fighters loyal to Bemba, both in Kinshasa and the north of the country, reportedly surrendered following the fighting to be integrated into the army.^[22]

Late in the month it was reported that Bemba planned to travel to Portugal for treatment of a broken leg; he had already received treatment for his leg there in previous months.^[19] The Portuguese ambassador subsequently said on March 30 that Bemba was expected to go to Portugal for treatment, but was not going into exile there.^[23]

[edit] Notes and references

Persondata
NAME	Bemba, Jean-Pierre
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Democratic Republic of the Congo politician
DATE OF BIRTH	4 November 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH	living
PLACE OF DEATH