DR Congo: Bemba, soon to return, for a "single opposition candidacy"

Former Congolese war chief Jean-Pierre Bemba confirmed Tuesday in Brussels that he intended to return to Kinshasa on 1 August, in preparation for the December presidential election, with no vengeance and indicating that he would campaign for "a single opposition candidacy".

"I intend to arrive in Kinshasa on the morning of August 1. I have warned the authorities and the UN of my arrival," said Bemba, 55, who is currently in Belgium. a press conference in a Brussels hotel, the first since his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in June.

His party, the Mouvement de Libération du Congo (MLC), which has already invested him candidate for the presidential election on December 23, announced Monday night that he would return to the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 1.

"I return for family reasons, to see where my father is buried, and to submit my candidacy for the presidential, "said the former Congolese vice president, stating that there was" no meeting planned for now "with his supporters. He obtained a Congolese diplomatic pbadport as a senator in office.

"My party wrote to City Hall, to the mayor's office, and warned the Interior Ministry to take steps to avoid overflowing," Bemba said.

Presidential, legislative and provincial elections are scheduled for December 23, 2018 in the DRC. The presidential election will nominate the successor of President Joseph Kabila, who can not represent but gives no sign of wanting to leave power.

"The Constitution is there, if it is not respected is a disaster for the country, "said the opponent.

In the run-up to the elections, Jean-Pierre Bemba" wants the unity of the opposition ", saying he wants to dialogue with his leaders, including Moses Katumbi, ex-president. close to Kabila in the opposition in 2015 and in exile since mid-2016.

"I am fighting for a single candidacy of the opposition", insisted Mr. Bemba – "but not necessarily me", a- he stressed.

"If we want change, we need only one candidate at the opposition level, and I will support the one who will be in the best position to defend the colors and ambitions of the opposition for alternation tomorrow," he added. the MLC leader

The latter declared himself for "peaceful, credible and democratic" elections, while considering that the conditions were not fulfilled.

"I hope that there will be no violence," he said.

Jean-Pierre Bemba was acquitted and released on bail by decision of the appeal panel of the ICC, to everyone's surprise, at the beginning of June in The Hague

He was sentenced in 2016 to 18 years in prison for abuses committed by his militia in the Central African Republic in the early 2000s.

Asked about his intentions, The former warlord said he had written during his detention in The Hague a "200-page program", economic, social, health, ecological and educational. "I'm not leaving empty-handed," he promised.

24/07/2018 19:30:40 –
Brussels (AFP) –
© 2018 AFP