The Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba on Wednesday returned home after spending a decade in prison.
He was held in detention in The Hague on charges of war crimes. But he had his sentence reversed recently as he bids to run for president.
Bemba touched down at Kinshasa’s N’Djili airport. He was greeted by thousands of cheering supporters who wore T-shirts, hats, scarves and robes bearing his image.
The International Criminal Court overturned his conviction in 2016 for war crimes.
Bemba was accused of allowing his forces to go on rampage in Central African Republic killing people in 2002 and 2003.
Jean-Pierre Bemba has been nominated by his party for the December poll.
He will be leading the party into the Presidential elections and will now pose the biggest challenge to the ruling coalition.
Jean-Pierre Bemba’s supporters arrive at the airport in Kinshasa to welcome him. He returns home after 12 years in Europe, 10 of them in prison. #DRCPolitics pic.twitter.com/dUCXZp1fyJ
— Anne Soy (@annesoy) August 1, 2018
There were reports of the police firing teargas at the supporters who stormed the streets to welcome him.
JP Bemba supporters. Police presence around airport quite heavy. I’m however surprised that crowd not bigger. The late Opposition leader EtienneTshisekedi had tens of thousands of pple waiting for him back in 2016..but again, this was his stronghold & was a more national leader pic.twitter.com/5EEZBWxmow
— Catherine Wambua- Soi (@C_SOI) August 1, 2018
The ruling coalition says Bemba should be declared ineligible to stand in the presidential election because of a witness tampering conviction at The Hague.
The constitutional court is however the institution that will decides who can contest the election.
VIDEO: After more than 11 years abroad and a decade of it behind bars, former DR Congo warlord Jean-Pierre #Bemba returns home having vowed to contest elections due in December pic.twitter.com/rHHGh23zhv
— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 1, 2018
Fate of Kabila
Candidate registration has opened but it is still not clear if President Joseph Kabila who has been banned running will commit to doing so.
He has not publicly commented on his political future although the Prime minister of the country has assured Kabila will not run for office again.
#RDC:#Bemba is back at home pic.twitter.com/Eo2NvwXWM0
— Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala (@StanysBujakera) August 1, 2018
Bemba was President Joseph Kabila’s vice during a 2003-06 transitional government.
He came second to Kabila in a 2006 election that sparked violence.
Source: Africafeeds.com
