Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (born November 4, 1962) is a Congolese politician and former rebel leader. He currently serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Transportation and Channels of Communication, and served as the deputy minister of defense prior to his incumbent position. He was also one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government from July 17, 2003, to December 2006.
Bemba led the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC), a rebel group turned political party, and received the second-highest number of votes in the 2006 presidential election. In January 2007, he was elected to the Senate.
In 2008, during a trip to Europe, Bemba was arrested on International Criminal Court charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.Press release International Criminal Court He spent the following 10 years in prison at The Hague, The Netherlands; 8 years awaiting trial and verdict, then two more years after conviction in 2016. In 2018, the verdicts were overturned on appeal. The court ruled that because the Rome Statute, which sets the court's rules, does not limit the amount of time a person can spend in prison awaiting trial, Bemba was not entitled to compensation. It called on member states to urgently review the relevant provisions in the statute. No such review has yet taken place. In 2018, Bemba returned to the Congo where he has since been active in national politics.
Background Bemba was born in Bokada, Nord-Ubangi. His father, Jeannot Bemba Saolona, was a businessman who was successful under Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko. His sister, Catherine Bemba, is married to Mobutu's son, Nzanga Mobutu, who was also a candidate in the 2006 presidential election.Kurt Wagner, "Run-off ballot in the Congo", World Socialist Web Site, 25 August 2006.
Bemba attended boarding school in Brussels and later studied economics at the ICHEC Brussels Management School.
MLC rebel years The MLC movement started in the Orientale Province of the DRC in 1998 at the beginning of the Second Congo War. Bemba said of its founding: "I had identified the possibility of launching an armed movement. So I went looking for serious partners. There were two countries in the region that were interested but I chose to present my dossier to the Ugandans. They liked it and so I went in."Emizet F. Kisangani, "CONFLICT IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: A MOSAIC OF INSURGENT GROUPS", International Journal on World Peace, September 2003. Between October 2002 and February 2003, the MLC had carried out an ethnic cleansing of 40% of pygmies in eastern Congo known as the operation Effacer le tableau.Minority Rights Group International, ["Erasing the Board: Report of the International Research Mission into Crimes Under International Law Committed Against the Bambuti Pygmies in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo"](https://minorityrights.org/resources/erasing-the-board-report-of-the-international-research-mission-into-crimes-under-international-law-committed-against-the-bambuti-pygmies-in-the-eastern-democratic-republic-of-congo/), *Minority Rights Group International*, n.d.
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 accused MLC fighters of committing atrocities against civilians in the course of this conflict.
Interim government In 2003, Bemba became one of four vice-presidents during the interim government that lasted from 2003-2006.Amnesty International, "CAR: Acquittal of Bemba a blow to victims", Amnesty International, June 2018.
2006 Presidential election
Bemba was one of 33 candidates who ran in the Congolese presidential election on July 30, 2006. His main campaign slogan — "One Hundred Percent Congolese" — was widely perceived as an attack on front-runner President Joseph Kabila. Kabila was born in eastern Congo, but spent much of his childhood in exile in Tanzania. Bemba himself has Angolan as well as Congolese ancestry."Vote Count Continues in Congo Election", Washington Post, 15 August 2006.
Bemba received substantial support in the western, Lingala-speaking portion of the country, including the capital, Kinshasa."Frontrunners need alliances for 2nd round of presidential polls", IRIN, 22 August 2006. Following the vote there was significant tension as to whether Kabila would win a majority of the vote, avoiding a runoff against Bemba, who was perceived as Kabila's main opponent."Tension ahead of election results", IRIN, 18 August 2006. However, results announced on August 20 gave Kabila 44% of the vote and Bemba 20%,
On August 21, 2006, while accompanied by 14 ambassadors of CIAT members (International Committee in charge of the Transition), including ambassadors from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France (Bernard Prévost) and Belgium (Johan Swinnen), and from MONUC, US diplomat William L. Swing, Bemba survived an assassination attempt by the Presidential Guard bombing his residence in Gombe. The ambassadors were forced to seek refuge in a cellar.:fr:Tensions Kabila-Bemba en 2006 et 2007
Kabila and Bemba 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 alleged fraud.BBC News (2006-11-15). "Kabila named DR Congo poll winner". BBC News, 15 November 2006. Retrieved from https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6151598.stm.
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."DRC: Supreme Court validates Kabila presidential victory", IRIN, 28 November 2006. 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 political opposition."DRC: Bemba condemns poll ruling but ready to lead opposition", IRIN, 28 November 2006."Bemba accepts DR Congo poll loss", BBC News, 28 November 2006. 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,"Bemba to run for Senate", AFP (IOL), 8 December 2006. and he succeeded in winning a seat."Former DR Congo vice president wins seat in Senate", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), 21 January 2007.
March 2007 violence A further attempt on Bemba's life in March 2007 led to an outbreak of fighting near Bemba's residence."Sustained gunfire reported in Congo's capital", Associated Press (IOL), 22 March 2007. A number of soldiers and civilians were reported killed. Bemba called for a ceasefire and negotiations and took refuge in the South African embassy."DR Congo rebel chief seeks refuge", BBC News, 23 March 2007. As fighting continued on March 23, it was announced that a warrant for Bemba's arrest had been issued, accusing him of high treason."Bemba: Wanted for high treason" , Reuters (IOL), 23 March 2007."Warrant Issued for Former Warlord as Congo Fighting Continues", Associated Press (FOX News), 23 March 2007. Although Bemba enjoyed immunity as a senator, the country's chief prosecutor said that he would ask parliament to remove it.
On March 26, Kabila said that security could not be guaranteed through negotiation and referred to the importance of restoring order. Bemba warned of a potential for dictatorship and foreshadowed his retreat into exile, citing security concerns."Kabila defends use of force as clashes go on", AFP (IOL), 26 March 2007.
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. The Portuguese ambassador subsequently said on March 30 that Bemba was expected to travel to Portugal for treatment, but was not going into exile there."Portugal accepts Bemba but not for exile", Reuters (IOL), 30 March 2007. On April 9, the Senate approved the trip for a period of 60 days."Bemba 'free to leave' DR Congo" , Al Jazeera, 10 April 2007."Bemba arrives in Portugal", AFP (IOL), 12 April 2007. On April 11, Bemba left the South African embassy and was taken to the airport by U.N. MONUC forces, then flown out of the country to Portugal,"Bemba leaves DR Congo", Al Jazeera, 11 April 2007. along with his wife and children. On April 12, the attorney general, Tshimanga Mukeba, said that he had asked the Senate to remove Bemba's immunity."DRC seeks to lift Bemba's immunity", DPA (IOL), 12 April 2007.
Following the outbreak of violence in March, Bemba's party, the MLC, said that it was being targeted by the government through arrests and intimidation, and that its headquarters was occupied by government forces."DRC opposition party hits out at government", AFP (IOL), 9 April 2007. On April 13, the party suspended its participation in the National Assembly due to this intimidation and insecurity."Bemba's party concerned about security", Reuters (IOL), 14 April 2007.
In the first half of June, it was reported that despite the expiration of the 60 days prescribed by the Senate, Bemba would not return to the DRC due to safety concerns.John James, "DR Congo's Bemba to stay abroad", BBC News, 10 June 2007. According to MLC executive secretary Thomas Luhaka, Bemba was medically able to return and take part in politics again, and Luhaka called for a political solution to facilitate his return. Without Senate permission to be absent, he would automatically lose his seat if absent from over a quarter of Senate sessions, unless the absences were justified."We want Bemba back, say DRC opposition", AFP (IOL), 11 June 2007. On June 15, the Senate extended Bemba's permitted absence until July 31, following a request from Bemba in a June 12 letter in asking for more time. In this letter he expressed a readiness to return and take part in politics, but also expressed concerns about his safety."RDC: Jean-Pierre Bemba autorisé à prolonger son séjour au Portugal" , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 15 June 2007 ."Senate extends to 31 July Bemba’s stay in Portugal" , African Press Agency, 16 June 2007.
On July 13, Bemba met with Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid. According to Michel, Bemba "intends to give the presidential majority the benefit of the doubt" and would not do or say anything "that could be taken as an attempt at destabilisation"."Bemba wants to return to DRC", AFP (IOL), 14 July 2007. He did not return by the July 31 deadline, with a spokesman citing continued security concerns; the Senate was then in recess until September 15,Lubunga Bya'Ombe, "Bemba not ready to return to DRC", Reuters (IOL), 1 August 2007. and Senate President Kengo wa Dondo said that Bemba would not be penalized for being away during this period because the Senate was not in session."DR Congo: Bemba’s sick leave expires abroad, but no penalty as senator" , African Press Agency, 1 August 2007. In a statement published on August 1, Bemba said that he wanted to return before September 15."Jean-Pierre Bemba souhaite revenir en RDC avant le 15 septembre" , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 1 August 2007 .
It was announced on September 7 that Bemba had met with National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe in Portugal to discuss his potential return."Le président du parlement de RDCongo a rencontré Jean-Pierre Bemba au Portugal" , AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), 7 September 2007 . In November 2007, he visited Belgium and met with Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht."Jean-Pierre Bemba en visite « privée » en Belgique depuis plusieurs jours" , afriquechos.ch, 7 November 2007 .