Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
ICC Orders War Crimes Charges Against Former Congo Vice President

VOA News - June 15, 2009
Jean-Pierre Bemba

The Hague-based International Criminal Court has ordered the Democratic Republic of Congo's former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba to go on trial on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Lisa Bryant has more from Paris.

A statement from the court said that a panel of judges had found there was sufficient evidence to believe that former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba was criminally responsible for murder, rape and pillaging.

Those atrocities took place in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003. Prosecutors claim Bemba sent up to 1,500 troops to CAR to retain control of a Congolese border area.

But Bemba's defense attorneys argue that the troops were not under Bemba's command. In an interview with French radio earlier this year, one of Bemba's lawyers, Nkwebe Liriss, laid the blame on former Central African Republic President Ange-Felix Patasse.

Liriss argued that prosecutors had absolutely no proof against Bemba. He said Bemba might have been in telephone contact with the troops, but that all of the orders were given by Patasse and his government. Mr. Patasse, he said, not Bemba, should be on trial in The Hague.

The son of a rich businessman, Bemba ruled over a vast area of northeastern Congo as a warlord. In 2006, he lost to Joseph Kabila in a bitterly disputed Congolese presidential election. A year later, his private militia was routed by government forces and in 2008, Bemba was arrested during a visit to Brussels.

Bemba is the most senior personality in the criminal court's custody. The court has an arrest warrant out for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.


Related articles


  1. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  2. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  4. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  5. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  6. Bemba, Katumbi renew their support for joint opposition presidential candidate Fayulu (November 16, 2018)
  7. Oppositioin leaders pick Martin Fayulu as joint presidential candidate (November 11, 2018)
  8. Jean-Pierre Bemba banned from running for president (August 25, 2018)
  9. Bemba says Katumbi should be allowed to run for president (August 4, 2018)
  10. Jean-Pierre Bemba Returns to DR Congo (August 1, 2018)
  11. Jean-Pierre Bemba named MLC presidential candidate (July 13, 2018)
  12. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  13. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  14. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  15. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  16. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  17. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  18. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  19. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  20. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  21. ICC Confirms 14-Year Sentence Against Thomas Lubanga (December 1, 2014)
  22. ICC Case Against Bemba Wrapping Up as Another Opens (November 12, 2014)
  23. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  24. ICC confirms war crimes charges against Bosco Ntaganda (June 10, 2014)
  25. ICC sentences Germain Katanga to 12 years (May 23, 2014)
  26. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  27. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  28. ICC finds Germain Katanga guilty of war crimes and crime against humanity (March 7, 2014)
  29. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  30. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.