Former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba says he is the best candidate to stand for President in the country’s upcoming elections.
He is hoping to be the sole opposition candidate for the December presidential elections but says he can still step down for another candidate.
Bemba is due to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo next week after his release from detention recently.
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.
He told journalists in Brussels that his “experience, management of men, management of security, of the army and also of economic development” makes him the best candidate.
“It is not an obsession. It is so that we, the opposition, can win and do everything so that a candidate from the opposition can win by presenting a programme that is credible for the population,” he added.
Candidate registration opens on Wednesday and 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.
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
