Members of a Congolese political party “Mouvement de Libération du Congo” (MLC) founded by Jean Pierre Bemba are confident that the outcome of their jailed party leader will be positive.
Local radio Okapi quoted Jean-Lucien Busa, the MLC deptuy general-secretary saying, “MLC leaders are confident that Jean-Pierre Bemba will be freed and rejoin us as soon as possible.”
Bemba, the leader of MLC and former vice-president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is charged with crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and war crimes (murder, rape and pillaging) allegedly committed in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003.
Busa explained that MLC is one of the main opposition parties in DRC.
“Congolese all know that MLC troops went to the CAR because they had been invited to do so by a government democratically elected”, he explained.
According to the Lusaka agreement, the MLC had the powers of a legitimate government on the portion of territory it controlled at the time, Busa said.
Bemba was thus entitled to sign a deal with Ange-Félix Patassé, the then President of CAR.
Busa also was quoted saying that MLC militants were visiting Bemba in jail almost daily and that the party was 100% behind its leader.
Bemba has been granted eight months to present his defense.
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