Opposition leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 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.
Bemba’s nomination is coming weeks after his release from detention after the International Criminal Court overturned his conviction.
He was convicted 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.
Previous Charges
Last year judges at the ICC added a year to Bemba’s 18-year jail term for attempting to bribe witnesses.
But the ICC overturned his 2016 conviction by upholding his appeal against that ruling.
The court said Bemba cannot be held responsible for the actions of his forces since he made attempts to stop the crimes.
Bemba, spent the last 10 years in prison in The Hague.
Returns to contest election
Bemba, 55 is to return to DR Congo this month for a party congress, according to his spokesman.
Even before his arrival he has been nominated as candidate for the presidential elections in December.
He said shortly after his nomination that “I thank all the participants. Thank you for your confidence, I will return soon.”
Although freed from detention, he is now awaiting another ruling for tampering with witnesses in his trial case.
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
