The electoral commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected the presidential bid of opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba.
His name was excluded from the final list of approved candidates to contest the December presidential election. Three other former prime ministers were also denied the chance to contest the election also suffering similar fate.
They are former prime ministers Adolphe Muzito, Antoine Gizenga and Samy Badibanga.
They were among the six candidates that were excluded from the commission’s list.
The final list was published on Friday by the electoral commission. But aggrieved parties have the chance to appeal the decision before final list is published in September.
Why Bemba was excluded?
The commission explains that Bemba’s International Criminal Court conviction for witness tampering was the reason for his exclusion from the list.
Bemba filed his candidacy for December’s presidential election early this month after returned home haven spent a decade in prison.
He was held in detention in The Hague on charges of war crimes. But 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.
Prior to his return to DR Congo, the ruling coalition had rejected his bid for president saying he was not eligible.
Following Friday’s decision to exclude him from the election, the opposition has reacted angrily to the news.
The opposition parties in a joint statement said “Once again the current regime is showing its determination to suppress the electoral process.”
There are fears Bemba’s exclusion from the final list could trigger violent reaction from his supporters. In 2006 his forces loyal to him clashed with state forces when he lost the presidential election to Joseph Kabila.
Mr. Kabila will not be running for President this time round.
Source: Africafeeds.com
