Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight.&nbsp;

Scattered protests started on Tuesday, and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on the Congolese people to peacefully resist Kabila, who has remained in power beyond his constitutional mandate with no election to pick a successor.

Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that at least 26 people were killed by security forces.&nbsp;

The government spokesman could not be reached for comment and a police spokesman had no information on deaths.&nbsp;

Gunfire crackled in several districts of the capital, Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, as measures to thwart dissent raised fears of bloody repression.&nbsp;

With a ban on demonstrations in force and a heavy military presence, Kinshasa&#39;s normally busy main boulevards were mostly deserted as pockets of youths gathered in side streets only to be dispersed by volleys of teargas.

By sunset, the city was calm, although littered with debris from earlier rioting. Youths played football in the streets.

Scores of people were arrested, especially in the eastern city of Goma, rights groups said. Reuters witnesses saw more than a dozen young men who had been arrested seated in the back of a military truck near the university.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m gravely concerned by the arrests of those who seek to express their political views,&quot; the head of the UN mission, Maman Sidikou, said in a statement, adding that UN staff had not been able to consistently gain access to jails to gather information on how many people had been arrested.

He called on Congo to end &quot;politically motivated detentions&quot;.&nbsp;

UN peacekeepers in armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets, at one point cheered on by a crowd shouting: &quot;Kabila, know that your mandate is finished!&quot;&nbsp;

In Lubumbashi, in the heart of Africa&#39;s richest copper- mining area, police and Kabila&#39;s elite Republican Guard fired live bullets to prevent demonstrations, said Gregoire Mulamba, a local human rights activist.

Local activist Jean-Pierre Muteba reported at least one death, a 14-year-old boy shot by police.&nbsp;

A police spokesman said he did not have enough information to comment.&nbsp; 
The mayor of Lubumbashi, Jean Oscar Sanguza, told Reuters that security forces had intervened to stop looters.&nbsp;

In the city of Kananga, in central Congo, fighting between security forces and a local clan militia shut down the airport.

Kabila, who has ruled since his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001, rarely speaks about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems.

The constitutional court has ruled Kabila can stay on until the vote takes place.

Fears of escalation

In a video posted on YouTube, opposition leader Tshisekedi called on people to &quot;not recognise the ... illegal ... authority of Joseph Kabila and to peacefully resist (his) coup d&#39;etat.&quot;Authorities have blocked most social media.&nbsp;

Western powers are nervous about a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse. Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power.

The United States and European Union have called for Kabila to respect the constitution. Congo&#39;s former colonial master, Belgium, said on Tuesday it would &quot;re-examine&quot; relations with Kabila, and France urged the European Union re-examine its links with Congo.

(Reuters)

Protesters in several parts of the Congo are asking Kabila to step down after his mandate expired overnight

Security forces shot dead at least 26 protesters who had gathered in the streets of Kinshasa and other cities of Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday to demand that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired overnight. Scattered protests started on Tuesday, and opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi called on the Congolese people to peacefully resist Kabila, who has remained in power beyond his constitutional mandate with no election to pick a successor. Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that at least 26 people were killed by security forces. The government spokesman could not be reached for comment and a police spokesman had no information on deaths. Gunfire crackled in several districts of the capital, Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, as measures to thwart dissent raised fears of bloody repression. With a ban on demonstrations in force and a heavy military presence, Kinshasa's normally busy main boulevards were mostly deserted as pockets of youths gathered in side streets only to be dispersed by volleys of teargas. By sunset, the city was calm, although littered with debris from earlier rioting. Youths played football in the streets. Scores of people were arrested, especially in the eastern city of Goma, rights groups said. Reuters witnesses saw more than a dozen young men who had been arrested seated in the back of a military truck near the university. "I'm gravely concerned by the arrests of those who seek to express their political views," the head of the UN mission, Maman Sidikou, said in a statement, adding that UN staff had not been able to consistently gain access to jails to gather information on how many people had been arrested. He called on Congo to end "politically motivated detentions". UN peacekeepers in armoured personnel carriers patrolled the streets, at one point cheered on by a crowd shouting: "Kabila, know that your mandate is finished!" In Lubumbashi, in the heart of Africa's richest copper- mining area, police and Kabila's elite Republican Guard fired live bullets to prevent demonstrations, said Gregoire Mulamba, a local human rights activist. Local activist Jean-Pierre Muteba reported at least one death, a 14-year-old boy shot by police. A police spokesman said he did not have enough information to comment. The mayor of Lubumbashi, Jean Oscar Sanguza, told Reuters that security forces had intervened to stop looters. In the city of Kananga, in central Congo, fighting between security forces and a local clan militia shut down the airport. Kabila, who has ruled since his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001, rarely speaks about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems. The constitutional court has ruled Kabila can stay on until the vote takes place. Fears of escalation In a video posted on YouTube, opposition leader Tshisekedi called on people to "not recognise the ... illegal ... authority of Joseph Kabila and to peacefully resist (his) coup d'etat."Authorities have blocked most social media. Western powers are nervous about a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse. Congo has never experienced a peaceful transition of power. The United States and European Union have called for Kabila to respect the constitution. Congo's former colonial master, Belgium, said on Tuesday it would "re-examine" relations with Kabila, and France urged the European Union re-examine its links with Congo. (Reuters)

Congo forces kill at least 26 as protests against President Kabila continue

Gunfire could be heard in several districts of Kinshasa early on Tuesday as demonstrators demanded that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired at midnight, and measures to curb dissent fanned fears of more violence.

Reuters witnesses in various parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo&#39;s capital city heard repeated gunshots, and one saw youths burning tires in the street. Protesters also set off fireworks and cheered, a Reuters witness said.

Demonstrators in the districts of Kalamu, Matete and Lingwala as well as at Kinshasa University blew whistles to signal to Kabila that it was time to leave. Students at the university also burned tires, multiple witnesses said.

Kabila faces potentially one of his biggest challenges since he took power after his father was assassinated in 2001. Critics accuse him of clinging to power by letting his term run out with no election to name his successor expected until 2018.&nbsp;

Kabila has rarely spoken about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems. The constitutional court has ruled that Kabila can stay on until the election takes place.

Some opposition leaders agreed Kabila can remain in office. But opponents, especially in Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, are not buying it. Diplomats have urged Kabila to step down to avoid triggering a massive crisis and possibly another civil war.

In what appeared to be an attempt at soothing opposition grievances, Kabila&#39;s administration announced on state TV an expansion of the government by 17 ministerial posts to 65, many of them reserved for opposition members.

The main opposition coalition, which refused to accept the deal enabling Kabila to stay on, is unlikely to be appeased.

Scores of protesters have been arrested in the past 24 hours, mostly in the eastern city of Goma, according to human rights groups.

Authorities have blocked most social media and outlawed protests in Kinshasa. Those measures have raised fears of more violence in a nation that has suffered near constant war and instability in the two decades since the fall of kleptocrat Mobutu Sese Seko.

Western powers are nervous of a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse.

(Reuters)

Gunfire could be heard in several districts while in some places people blew whistles to signal to Kabila that it was time to leave

Gunfire could be heard in several districts of Kinshasa early on Tuesday as demonstrators demanded that President Joseph Kabila step down after his mandate expired at midnight, and measures to curb dissent fanned fears of more violence. Reuters witnesses in various parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital city heard repeated gunshots, and one saw youths burning tires in the street. Protesters also set off fireworks and cheered, a Reuters witness said. Demonstrators in the districts of Kalamu, Matete and Lingwala as well as at Kinshasa University blew whistles to signal to Kabila that it was time to leave. Students at the university also burned tires, multiple witnesses said. Kabila faces potentially one of his biggest challenges since he took power after his father was assassinated in 2001. Critics accuse him of clinging to power by letting his term run out with no election to name his successor expected until 2018. Kabila has rarely spoken about the issue in public, but his allies say the election was delayed because of logistical and financial problems. The constitutional court has ruled that Kabila can stay on until the election takes place. Some opposition leaders agreed Kabila can remain in office. But opponents, especially in Kinshasa, a city of 12 million, are not buying it. Diplomats have urged Kabila to step down to avoid triggering a massive crisis and possibly another civil war. In what appeared to be an attempt at soothing opposition grievances, Kabila's administration announced on state TV an expansion of the government by 17 ministerial posts to 65, many of them reserved for opposition members. The main opposition coalition, which refused to accept the deal enabling Kabila to stay on, is unlikely to be appeased. Scores of protesters have been arrested in the past 24 hours, mostly in the eastern city of Goma, according to human rights groups. Authorities have blocked most social media and outlawed protests in Kinshasa. Those measures have raised fears of more violence in a nation that has suffered near constant war and instability in the two decades since the fall of kleptocrat Mobutu Sese Seko. Western powers are nervous of a repeat of the conflicts between 1996 to 2003 that killed millions, drew in half a dozen neighbouring armies and saw rebel fighters rape women en masse. (Reuters)

Protests erupt in Congo as President Kabila's mandate expires

The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to quell the anti-Kabila protests and punish those involved.&nbsp; 
 
Attorney general Flory Kabange Numbi told reporters, &quot;The Congolese national police are actively seeking out the ... authors of these grave acts of murder and plunder.&quot; 
 
He also said migration officials will prevent the perpetrators from escaping the country.&nbsp; 
 
For months, the opposition has been organising protests against President Joseph Kabila, who they fear might hold on to power even after his term is over. Scores of people were killed in the riots, Reuters reported.&nbsp; 
 
According to the Human Rights Watch, the riots left at least 37 protesters and six policemen dead. The police however said 32 people had died inlcuding four policemen.&nbsp; 
 
Etienne Tshisekedi, who organised the protests told a Belgian television channel that around 100 were killed.&nbsp; 
 
The protests are still taking place in Kinshasa, and on Wednesday 50 troops were deployed to stop the protests.&nbsp; 
 
The President&#39;s office issued a statement calling for calm and asked the citizens to go about their daily activities, now that security is ensured, Reuters reported.&nbsp; 
 
UN asks Congo to show restraint 
 
The UN Security Council warned the Congolese government not to aggravate the situation and show restraint.&nbsp; 
 
The US Special Envoy for Africa&#39;s Great Lakes region said targeted sanctions will imposed on people who are involved in the violence.&nbsp; 
 
Moise Katumbi, exiled leader said, &quot;Without sanctions, they will continue killing people like mosquitoes.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

For months protests have been organised against President Joseph Kabila, who they fear might hold on to power even after his term is over

The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to quell the anti-Kabila protests and punish those involved. Attorney general Flory Kabange Numbi told reporters, "The Congolese national police are actively seeking out the ... authors of these grave acts of murder and plunder." He also said migration officials will prevent the perpetrators from escaping the country. For months, the opposition has been organising protests against President Joseph Kabila, who they fear might hold on to power even after his term is over. Scores of people were killed in the riots, Reuters reported. According to the Human Rights Watch, the riots left at least 37 protesters and six policemen dead. The police however said 32 people had died inlcuding four policemen. Etienne Tshisekedi, who organised the protests told a Belgian television channel that around 100 were killed. The protests are still taking place in Kinshasa, and on Wednesday 50 troops were deployed to stop the protests. The President's office issued a statement calling for calm and asked the citizens to go about their daily activities, now that security is ensured, Reuters reported. UN asks Congo to show restraint The UN Security Council warned the Congolese government not to aggravate the situation and show restraint. The US Special Envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region said targeted sanctions will imposed on people who are involved in the violence. Moise Katumbi, exiled leader said, "Without sanctions, they will continue killing people like mosquitoes." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Congo threatens to punish those behind anti-Kabila riots

A senior judge has said she was pressured into sentencing opposition figure Moise Katumbi to a three-year jail term by Congolese authorities seeking to thwart his presidential ambitions. 
 
Katumbi, seen as the leading challenger to President Joseph Kabila in elections due later this year, was last month found guilty in absentia of fraud in a real estate deal. 
 
The ruling was handed down by a three-judge tribunal but in a letter seen by AFP yesterday, the presiding judge said officials had harassed her into signing the verdict and even threatened her with arrest if she did not comply. 
 
&quot;I was forced to sentence Mr Moise Katumbi,&quot; Chantale Ramazani Wazuri wrote in the letter addressed to the government, the European Union, the African Union and UN representatives. 
 
She said the goal was to ensure Katumbi would be ineligible to take part in the upcoming polls, for which a date has yet to be set. 
 
She accused the head of DR Congo&#39;s intelligence services, Kalev Mutond, and judicial authorities in the country&#39;s second city Lubumbashi of putting &quot;physical and moral&quot; pressure on her to &quot;go beyond&quot; the scope of the law. 
 
The dissenting judge has not been seen at work since Monday, one of her colleagues in Lubumbashi, a Kabila stronghold, told AFP. 
 
Communications minister Lambert Mende said the judge had left for Belgium, where she is now hoping to win asylum. 
 
He added that the letter would make no difference to Katumbi&#39;s case. 
 
&quot;This manoeuvre will have no effect on the judgement against Mr Katumbi,&quot; he said. 
 
Katumbi, 51, a football magnate, also faces charges of hiring foreign mercenaries as part of an alleged plot to overthrow Kabila. 
 
He left the Democratic Republic of Congo in May to undergo medical treatment in South Africa and has since settled in London. He insists however he will not withdraw from the presidential race. 
 
The justice minister has said that Katumbi will be jailed as soon as he arrives back in the country. 
 
Congolese opposition parties - who fear Kabila plans to postpone the election in a bid to cling to power - said last month they had forged an alliance to demand that he quit when his term expires in December. 
 
Kabila has been in power since the assassination of his father Laurent-Desire Kabila in 2001. 
 
(AFP)

The goal was to ensure Katumbi's ineligibility to take part in the upcoming polls, the presiding judge Chantale Wazuri wrote in a letter

A senior judge has said she was pressured into sentencing opposition figure Moise Katumbi to a three-year jail term by Congolese authorities seeking to thwart his presidential ambitions. Katumbi, seen as the leading challenger to President Joseph Kabila in elections due later this year, was last month found guilty in absentia of fraud in a real estate deal. The ruling was handed down by a three-judge tribunal but in a letter seen by AFP yesterday, the presiding judge said officials had harassed her into signing the verdict and even threatened her with arrest if she did not comply. "I was forced to sentence Mr Moise Katumbi," Chantale Ramazani Wazuri wrote in the letter addressed to the government, the European Union, the African Union and UN representatives. She said the goal was to ensure Katumbi would be ineligible to take part in the upcoming polls, for which a date has yet to be set. She accused the head of DR Congo's intelligence services, Kalev Mutond, and judicial authorities in the country's second city Lubumbashi of putting "physical and moral" pressure on her to "go beyond" the scope of the law. The dissenting judge has not been seen at work since Monday, one of her colleagues in Lubumbashi, a Kabila stronghold, told AFP. Communications minister Lambert Mende said the judge had left for Belgium, where she is now hoping to win asylum. He added that the letter would make no difference to Katumbi's case. "This manoeuvre will have no effect on the judgement against Mr Katumbi," he said. Katumbi, 51, a football magnate, also faces charges of hiring foreign mercenaries as part of an alleged plot to overthrow Kabila. He left the Democratic Republic of Congo in May to undergo medical treatment in South Africa and has since settled in London. He insists however he will not withdraw from the presidential race. The justice minister has said that Katumbi will be jailed as soon as he arrives back in the country. Congolese opposition parties - who fear Kabila plans to postpone the election in a bid to cling to power - said last month they had forged an alliance to demand that he quit when his term expires in December. Kabila has been in power since the assassination of his father Laurent-Desire Kabila in 2001. (AFP)

Congo judge 'pressured' into sentencing Moise Katumbi

Congolese opposition leader Moise Katumbi said he will return from Europe to fight presidential elections later this year, dismissing an arrest warrant against him as &quot;fake&quot;. 
 
The multi-millionaire owner of Congolese football club TP Mazembe said he had now recovered from what he and his supporters have alleged was a police attempt to poison him in May, an accusation rejected by the government. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m going to come back even if they have their fake police warrant. I am a candidate in 2016,&quot; Katumbi told Reuters in an interview in a Paris hotel on Monday. 
 
Any return would heighten political tensions in Democratic Republic of Congo where opposition groups have accused President Joseph Kabila of trying to cling to power by cracking down on dissent and delaying elections due in November. 
 
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Katumbi in May on charges of hiring foreign mercenaries in a plot against the republic. 
 
The prosecutor general let him leave the country a day later to receive medical treatment for an unspecified illness, as long as he returned once his health improved. 
 
A month after that, he was convicted in absentia in a separate case on charges of selling a building that he did not own and sentenced to three years in prison. 
 
Katumbi, who has since travelled to South Africa, Britain and France, has denied all the charges, calling them politically motivated. &quot;My health is improving very well. I&#39;m going back as soon as possible ... I&#39;m not scared about anything,&quot; he said. 
 
He and his supporters have accused police of injecting him with a toxic substance during a demonstration in his hometown of Lubumbashi. 
 
Government spokesman Lambert Mende dismissed the allegation. 
 
&quot;He wants to distract the population,&quot; Mende told Reuters. &quot;He was injected with something and he only notices three months after?&quot; 
 
Kabila, in power since 2001, is barred by constitutional term limits from standing again. 
 
The government has said the vote will probably be delayed because of logistical problems, and denied accusations that it is trying to put off the election for political reasons. 
 
Katumbi, the former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, called on world powers to impose more sanctions on Congolese officials to force the government to hold the election. 
 
The United States blocked the assets of the police commissioner of the capital Kinshasa last month for what it described as the violent suppression of opposition to Kabila&#39;s government. European powers have also discussed sanctions. 
 
(Reuters)

Congolese opposition leader Moise Katumbi said he will return from Europe to fight presidential elections later this year

Congolese opposition leader Moise Katumbi said he will return from Europe to fight presidential elections later this year, dismissing an arrest warrant against him as "fake". The multi-millionaire owner of Congolese football club TP Mazembe said he had now recovered from what he and his supporters have alleged was a police attempt to poison him in May, an accusation rejected by the government. "I'm going to come back even if they have their fake police warrant. I am a candidate in 2016," Katumbi told Reuters in an interview in a Paris hotel on Monday. Any return would heighten political tensions in Democratic Republic of Congo where opposition groups have accused President Joseph Kabila of trying to cling to power by cracking down on dissent and delaying elections due in November. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Katumbi in May on charges of hiring foreign mercenaries in a plot against the republic. The prosecutor general let him leave the country a day later to receive medical treatment for an unspecified illness, as long as he returned once his health improved. A month after that, he was convicted in absentia in a separate case on charges of selling a building that he did not own and sentenced to three years in prison. Katumbi, who has since travelled to South Africa, Britain and France, has denied all the charges, calling them politically motivated. "My health is improving very well. I'm going back as soon as possible ... I'm not scared about anything," he said. He and his supporters have accused police of injecting him with a toxic substance during a demonstration in his hometown of Lubumbashi. Government spokesman Lambert Mende dismissed the allegation. "He wants to distract the population," Mende told Reuters. "He was injected with something and he only notices three months after?" Kabila, in power since 2001, is barred by constitutional term limits from standing again. The government has said the vote will probably be delayed because of logistical problems, and denied accusations that it is trying to put off the election for political reasons. Katumbi, the former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, called on world powers to impose more sanctions on Congolese officials to force the government to hold the election. The United States blocked the assets of the police commissioner of the capital Kinshasa last month for what it described as the violent suppression of opposition to Kabila's government. European powers have also discussed sanctions. (Reuters)

Congo opposition leader says will return for vote, dismisses arrest warrant

The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that it will launch emergency yellow fever vaccination campaigns along the border between Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Congolese capital Kinshasa next month. 
 
The worst yellow fever outbreak in decades has killed about 345 people in Angola, while Congo declared an epidemic in Kinshasa and two other provinces on Monday after reporting 67 confirmed cases and more than 1,000 other suspected cases. 
 
In a statement, WHO said that the campaign would target areas within 75-100 km of the border where there are high levels of cross-border movement and trade in order to create an &quot;immune buffer&quot; and prevent further spread of the disease. 
 
WHO said that the campaign would begin in July. There is currently almost no vaccine left in Congo and a new stock of more than 1 million doses could take weeks to arrive in country, health officials have said. 
 
The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccine has already been depleted twice this year to immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo. It stands at 6 million doses, but experts warn this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in a number of highly-populated areas. 
 
The mosquito-borne haemorrhagic virus is a major concern in Kinshasa, a city of about 12 million people with poor health services, a humid climate beloved of the insects and much stagnant water where they can breed, owing to pour drainage. 
 
(Reuters)

Congo currently has no vaccines and a new stock of more than 1 million doses could take weeks to arrive

The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that it will launch emergency yellow fever vaccination campaigns along the border between Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Congolese capital Kinshasa next month. The worst yellow fever outbreak in decades has killed about 345 people in Angola, while Congo declared an epidemic in Kinshasa and two other provinces on Monday after reporting 67 confirmed cases and more than 1,000 other suspected cases. In a statement, WHO said that the campaign would target areas within 75-100 km of the border where there are high levels of cross-border movement and trade in order to create an "immune buffer" and prevent further spread of the disease. WHO said that the campaign would begin in July. There is currently almost no vaccine left in Congo and a new stock of more than 1 million doses could take weeks to arrive in country, health officials have said. The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccine has already been depleted twice this year to immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo. It stands at 6 million doses, but experts warn this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in a number of highly-populated areas. The mosquito-borne haemorrhagic virus is a major concern in Kinshasa, a city of about 12 million people with poor health services, a humid climate beloved of the insects and much stagnant water where they can breed, owing to pour drainage. (Reuters)

WHO to launch yellow fever vaccination in Angola, Congo

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years in jail for a series of brutal rapes and murders in Central African Republic (CAR) over a decade ago. 
 
&quot;The chamber sentences Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to a total of 18 years of imprisonment,&quot; said judge Sylvia Steiner, passing the tribunal`s toughest term to date. 
 
In justifying the stiff ruling, she said the former militia leader had failed to exercise control over his private army sent into CAR in late October 2002 where they carried out a series of &quot;sadistic&quot; rapes, murders and pillaging of &quot;particular cruelty.&quot; 
 
Bemba is the highest-level official to be sentenced by the ICC after being convicted in March on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And he is the only the third person to be sentenced at the ICC since it began work in 2002. 
 
The atrocities were carried out by Bemba&#39;s private army, the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), when he sent them into neighbouring CAR in late October 2002 to put down a coup against then president Ange-Felix Patasse. 
 
The 1,500 troops unleashed a five-month campaign of terror, during which the judges said &quot;entire families were victimised&quot; and which was aimed at squashing any resistance to Patasse&rsquo;s rule. 
 
Prosecutors had called for a sentence of at least 25 years imprisonment at the end of Bemba&#39;s lengthy trial which opened in November 2010. 
 
The case however is likely to drag on for a few more years, as his defence team has already filed notice that it intends to appeal the conviction, and argued that Bemba should be released immediately as he has been behind bars since his arrest in 2008. 
 
But the three-judge bench said it had &quot;not found any mitigating circumstances&quot; to allow a reduction in sentence. 
 
Reading out their findings at the world&#39;s only permanent war crimes court, based in The Hague, judge Steiner said Bemba had done &quot;more than tolerate the crimes as a commander&quot;. 
 
&quot;Mr Bemba&#39;s failure to take action was deliberately aimed at encouraging the attacks directed against the civilian population,&quot; she said.Bemba, a rich businessman who became one of the vice presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested in Brussels in 2008 after losing a bid for his country&#39;s presidency. 
 
His case was the first at the ICC to focus on rape as a weapon of war and the first to highlight a military commander&#39;s responsibility for the conduct of the troops under his control. 
 
In a swift reaction, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Twitter that it welcomed the sentence saying it &quot;offers a measure of justice for victims of sexual violence&quot; and serves as a warning to &quot;other commanders that they too can be held accountable for rapes and other serious abuses committed by troops under their control.&quot; 
 
But his defence has argued that &quot;the whole trial process was flawed and unfair and that Mr Bemba`s rights as an accused were violated throughout,&quot; his lawyer Peter Haynes said in a filing late Monday to the court. 
 
&quot;No reasonable trial chamber could have convicted him of the charges he faced,&quot; Haynes argued. 
 
He said Bemba was &quot;convicted of a case in which in material respects he was ignorant&quot; and that the former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo was &quot;not liable as a superior for the actions of the MLC&quot; in CAR. 
 
In different cases, the ICC has previously sentenced two other Congolese warlords to 14 and 12 years respectively. 
 
?(AFP)

Bemba has become the highest-level official to be sentenced by the International Criminal Court which began work in 2002

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba to 18 years in jail for a series of brutal rapes and murders in Central African Republic (CAR) over a decade ago. "The chamber sentences Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to a total of 18 years of imprisonment," said judge Sylvia Steiner, passing the tribunal`s toughest term to date. In justifying the stiff ruling, she said the former militia leader had failed to exercise control over his private army sent into CAR in late October 2002 where they carried out a series of "sadistic" rapes, murders and pillaging of "particular cruelty." Bemba is the highest-level official to be sentenced by the ICC after being convicted in March on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And he is the only the third person to be sentenced at the ICC since it began work in 2002. The atrocities were carried out by Bemba's private army, the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), when he sent them into neighbouring CAR in late October 2002 to put down a coup against then president Ange-Felix Patasse. The 1,500 troops unleashed a five-month campaign of terror, during which the judges said "entire families were victimised" and which was aimed at squashing any resistance to Patasse’s rule. Prosecutors had called for a sentence of at least 25 years imprisonment at the end of Bemba's lengthy trial which opened in November 2010. The case however is likely to drag on for a few more years, as his defence team has already filed notice that it intends to appeal the conviction, and argued that Bemba should be released immediately as he has been behind bars since his arrest in 2008. But the three-judge bench said it had "not found any mitigating circumstances" to allow a reduction in sentence. Reading out their findings at the world's only permanent war crimes court, based in The Hague, judge Steiner said Bemba had done "more than tolerate the crimes as a commander". "Mr Bemba's failure to take action was deliberately aimed at encouraging the attacks directed against the civilian population," she said.Bemba, a rich businessman who became one of the vice presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested in Brussels in 2008 after losing a bid for his country's presidency. His case was the first at the ICC to focus on rape as a weapon of war and the first to highlight a military commander's responsibility for the conduct of the troops under his control. In a swift reaction, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Twitter that it welcomed the sentence saying it "offers a measure of justice for victims of sexual violence" and serves as a warning to "other commanders that they too can be held accountable for rapes and other serious abuses committed by troops under their control." But his defence has argued that "the whole trial process was flawed and unfair and that Mr Bemba`s rights as an accused were violated throughout," his lawyer Peter Haynes said in a filing late Monday to the court. "No reasonable trial chamber could have convicted him of the charges he faced," Haynes argued. He said Bemba was "convicted of a case in which in material respects he was ignorant" and that the former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo was "not liable as a superior for the actions of the MLC" in CAR. In different cases, the ICC has previously sentenced two other Congolese warlords to 14 and 12 years respectively. ?(AFP)

Former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba sentenced to 18 years in jail

congo

Congo, News on Congo, stories on Congo, articles on Congo, Congo stories at Wion, Congo news, Congo latest news