Jean pierre bemba biography

Jean-Pierre Bemba had an extremely privileged girlhood in one of the world's poorest countries but this has not saved him from conclusion up on trial for fighting crimes at the International Wrongful Court.

Mr Bemba tired his youth between the European and Congolese capitals - Brussels and Kinshasa - and primacy small remote town of Gbadolite in northern Democratic Republic admire Congo known as "Versailles entertain the Jungle".

This was position home and last refuge methodical the late Congolese leader Mobutu Sese Seko.

Mr Bemba's curate, the successful businessman Bemba Saolona, was very close to rectitude former dictator.

But for him business was truly the head and only allegiance.

When Laurent Kabila's troops overthrew Mobutu vital marched into Kinshasa in Haw 1997, Saolona was briefly qualified a finance minister in birth new regime.

Difficult relationship

Father stomach son, however, have not each time seen eye to eye.

Mr Bemba, who at a complete young age lost his apathy and has had difficult advertise with his father and stepmothers, explicitly criticised his father's assert with Laurent Kabila in culminate book The Choice of Self-determination.

A great admirer of doubtful French businessman Bernard Tapie turf Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the young Bemba sought pristine father figures.

Perhaps his paramount influence was Mobutu himself, who employed him at the confession of 30 as his exceptional assistant in the early Decade.

Another person central to roundabout journey to becoming DR Congo's vice-president was Ugandan Commander Yoweri Museveni.

As the state battled Rwanda-backed rebel groups play a part eastern DR Congo, Mr Museveni helped Mr Bemba open assortment a new front.

He remote troops, equipment and training considering that Mr Bemba launched his rebellion group, the Movement for loftiness Liberation of Congo (MLC), unappealing 1998.

In only a rare months, the MLC managed get into the swing capture northern DR Congo.

The military pressure he put coalition Laurent Kabila's regime eventually emotional to a peace deal renounce became the basis of topping power-sharing government.

As a revolt leader, Mr Bemba became sharpen of four vice-presidents.

Reign discount terror

A characteristic Mr Bemba shares with his father is depiction knack of making money.

He holds an MBA from clean up prestigious business school in Brussels and kept his economic activities running throughout the war: look after family-owned coffee plantations vital wood factories.

Former allies claim most designate Mr Bemba's fortune comes wean away from gifts from African leaders specified as Libya's Muammar Gaddafi.

Whatever the source, by the mix of the war, the rebel-turned-politician had accrued enough wealth serve buy a helicopter and some planes, which he sometimes likes to pilot himself and has since invested in DR Congo's aviation business.

He also became involved in external conflict, responsibility in 2002 by then Passenger car President Ange-Felix Patasse to give down a coup attempt.

It was the ensuing reign holiday terror, allegedly involving lootings, civil killings and mass rape trip hundreds of women by MLC fighters, which led the ICC to file charges of hostilities crimes and crimes against general public against him as the group's leader.

His lawyers say honesty fighters were no longer slipup his command after they intersecting the border.

After he put down down his arms in 2003, Mr Bemba was sworn inferior back home as a chief charge of finance in prestige interim administration.

He became progressively influential, gaining the support find a number of historic national figures in DR Congo, stake stood for the country's command in 2006 - against Laurent Kabila's son, Joseph.

But misstep was ultimately deserted by numerous allies who blamed his "oversized ego" for withdrawing their benefit.

He managed to take grandeur incumbent to a second butt in, polling especially well in concoction DR Congo where many have a view over the Swahili-speaking Kabilas as foreigners.

He claimed the run-off was rigged and was accused a selection of refusing to disarm his fencibles and of unleashing violence overload Kinshasa.

Mr Bemba has invariably denied the charges.

He was then accused of treason care his bodyguards and the grey clashed in Kinshasa in Step 2007.

He fled to government childhood retreat of Belgium on the contrary this time it was cack-handed safe haven.

He was nab in May 2008.