DRC’s Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former rebel leader previously jailed by the ICC, has been appointed as defence minister and deputy prime minister in a Cabinet reshuffle ahead of the country’s presidential polls
Bemba's promotion is seen as a move to help President President Felix Tshisekedi win re-election in DRC's war-torn northeast, where the former rebel lader's group was popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
DRC's former vice president between 2003 and 2006, Bemba was later imprisoned by the ICC for more than a decade, accused of murders, rapes and pillaging committed by his Movement for the Liberation of Congo forces in the neighboring country of Central African Republic. Bemba's political comeback was likely decided to help President President Felix Tshisekedi win votes in DRC's war-torn northeast, where Bemba's rebel group was popular in the 1990s and 2000s, say analysts.“This is clearly a pre-election reshuffle and Jean-Pierre Bemba has been appointed to bring his supporters in line to rally behind the president ahead of the race,” said Benjamin Hunter, Africa analyst for Verisk Maplecroft, a risk assessment firm.
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