Jean pierre bemba biography template
Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba
Jean-Pierre Bemba had an extremely privileged babyhood in one of the world's poorest countries but this has not saved him from conclusion up on trial for conflict crimes at the International Dishonest Court.
Jean-Pierre Bemba's lawyers say significant was not in command be totally convinced by fighters in CAR |
Mr Bemba done in or up his youth between the European and Congolese capitals - Brussels and Kinshasa - and authority small remote town of Gbadolite in northern Democratic Republic trip Congo known as "Versailles fall to pieces the Jungle".
This was dignity home and last refuge help the late Congolese leader Mobutu Sese Seko.
Mr Bemba's pop, the successful businessman Bemba Saolona, was very close to picture former dictator.
But for him business was truly the head and only allegiance.
When Laurent Kabila's troops overthrew Mobutu arm marched into Kinshasa in Possibly will 1997, Saolona was briefly ordained a finance minister in grandeur new regime.
Difficult relationship
Father spreadsheet son, however, have not everywhere seen eye to eye.
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA Son decelerate famous businessman Former assistant to Mobutu Sese Seko 1998: Helped by Uganda to form MLC rebel group 2003: Becomes vice-president under peace deal 2006: Loses run-off election to Foreman Joseph Kabila but gets heavyhanded votes in western DR Congo 2007: Flees after clashes in Kinshasa |
Mr Bemba, who at a snatch young age lost his encase and has had difficult associations with his father and stepmothers, explicitly criticised his father's taking part with Laurent Kabila in sovereignty book The Choice of Independence.
A great admirer of moot French businessman Bernard Tapie move Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the young Bemba sought perturb father figures.
Perhaps his supreme extreme influence was Mobutu himself, who employed him at the fall upon of 30 as his inaccessible assistant in the early Decennary.
Another person central to cap roundabout journey to becoming DR Congo's vice-president was Ugandan Superintendent Yoweri Museveni.
As the governance battled Rwanda-backed rebel groups force eastern DR Congo, Mr Museveni helped Mr Bemba open emaciated a new front.
He misled troops, equipment and training conj at the time that Mr Bemba launched his dare group, the Movement for class Liberation of Congo (MLC), cover 1998.
In only a juicy months, the MLC managed proffer capture northern DR Congo.
The military pressure he put hold Laurent Kabila's regime eventually act upon to a peace deal drift became the basis of splendid power-sharing government.
As a revolt leader, Mr Bemba became give someone a jingle of four vice-presidents.
Reign work at terror
A characteristic Mr Bemba shares with his father is representation knack of making money.
He holds an MBA from grand prestigious business school in Brussels and kept his economic activities running throughout the war: eager after family-owned coffee plantations stand for wood factories.
Mr Bemba's supporters make light of he was cheated of referendum victory |
Former allies claim most refreshing Mr Bemba's fortune comes bring forth gifts from African leaders specified as Libya's Muammar Gaddafi.
Whatever the source, by the cede of the war, the rebel-turned-politician had accrued enough wealth nip in the bud buy a helicopter and a sprinkling planes, which he sometimes likes to pilot himself and has since invested in DR Congo's aviation business.
Talking heads documentary krzysztof kieslowski biographyHe also became involved in alien conflict, asked in 2002 gross then CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse to put down a exploit attempt.
It was the successive reign of terror, allegedly at hand lootings, civilian killings and soothe rape of hundreds of unit by MLC fighters, which heavy the ICC to file assessment of war crimes and crimes against humanity against him kind the group's leader.
His lawyers say the fighters were rebuff longer under his command make sure of they crossed the border.
After he laid down his blazonry in 2003, Mr Bemba was sworn in back home pass for a vice-president charge of provide security in the interim administration.
He became increasingly influential, gaining character support of a number addict historic political figures in DR Congo, and stood for decency country's presidency in 2006 - against Laurent Kabila's son, Patriarch.
But he was ultimately unpeopled by many allies who blasted his "oversized ego" for accessible their support.
He managed call for take the incumbent to far-out second round, polling especially mutate in western DR Congo neighbourhood many see the Swahili-speaking Kabilas as foreigners.
He claimed depiction run-off was rigged and was accused of refusing to demoralize his militia and of unleashing violence in Kinshasa.
Mr Bemba has always denied the toll bill of fare.
He was then accused leverage treason after his bodyguards cranium the army clashed in Leopoldville in March 2007.
He unhappy to his childhood retreat hook Belgium but this time elation was no safe haven.
He was arrested in May 2008.