There were no hearings in the war crimes trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba at the International Criminal Court (ICC) today. The eighteenth witness to be called by the defense was scheduled to take the stand this morning, but for unknown reasons his appearance was postponed to this Wednesday, April 17. The witness, who goes by the ... Continue reading
April
12
2013
Insider Tells ICC Bemba Lacked Capacity to Command Alone
The one witness who testified this week in Jean-Pierre Bemba’s trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) served in a senior position in the group the accused led. Testifying under a pseudonym and via video link from an undisclosed location, he said the accused had an “elementary” military background that made it impossible for him ... Continue reading
April
12
2013
Bemba ‘Lost Authority’ Over Troops Deployed in CAR
On the concluding day of his testimony, a former insider in the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) said that Jean-Pierre Bemba “lost authority” over his troops once he put them at the disposal of Central African authorities. Testifying in Mr. Bemba’s war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) via video link, ... Continue reading
A witness testifying on behalf of Jean-Pierre Bemba at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday stated that media reports about crimes allegedly committed by the accused’s militia were based on rumors rather than field visits. He also said it would have been “irrational” for soldiers belonging to the accused’s militia to commit some of ... Continue reading
Today, a witness said Jean-Pierre Bemba formed a commission to probe the conduct of his fighters immediately after receiving a report from a human rights organization alleging that members of his Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) were committing crimes. Testifying for the third day, Witness D0-21’ said members of the commission of inquiry ... Continue reading
The seventeenth witness to testify for Jean-Pierre Bemba today said residents of the Central African town of Sibut offered “genuinely heartfelt” thanks to the accused’s Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) fighters after they “liberated” the town from rebel control. Defense lawyer Aime Kilolo-Musamba screened footage in which residents of the town described brutal ... Continue reading
Jean-Pierre Bemba did not have the ability to single-handedly command his private militia, the International Criminal Court (ICC) heard today. According to a new witness, who testified under a pseudonym, the former vice president of Congo had an “elementary” military background that made it impossible for him to individually make major decisions related to military ... Continue reading
April
5
2013
Bemba Trial Resumes Next Week
Hearings in the trial of Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba will resume on Monday, April 8, most likely with the testimony of ‘Witness D04-21,’ who will testify via video link from an undisclosed location. The trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has been on spring judicial recess since March 28. On April 3, the ... Continue reading
This week, a Congolese soldier who served in a contingent accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity defended the discipline of the group, whose commander-in-chief Jean-Pierre Bemba is on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He said the accused’s fighters were not even present in some areas where prosecutors say the crimes ... Continue reading
March
22
2013
Former MLC Insider Concludes Testimony
On the last day of his testimony, a former insider in war crimes accused Jean-Pierre Bemba’s militia affirmed that no soldier from the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) was present in many of the localities where war crimes are alleged to have been committed by the accused’s troops. “No soldier from the Democratic ... Continue reading
