The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, Thursday appointed a former militia leader, once convicted of war crimes, as his new defense minister.
Jean Pierre Bemba, a former Congolese vice-president, was cleared on appeal by the International Criminal Court in 2018.
He was convicted of failing to prevent his militia from committing crimes.
His appointment comes as the Congolese army battles the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east of the country.
His appointment was part of an overhaul of the 57 members of government, which the president’s spokesperson said was “urgent and necessary”, in an announcement on Congo’s national television late on Thursday.
Tshisekedi also appointed his former chief of staff, Vital Kamerhe, as minister of economy.
Mr. Kamerhe was convicted of embezzlement but freed on appeal last year.
The changes come as the country is due to go to the polls in December in which Mr. Tshisekedi is expected to run for re-election.
Bemba, a former rebel leader was arrested in 2008 by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his troops in the Central African Republic between 2002 and 2003.
He was acquitted and released 10 years later after his conviction was reversed on appeal.
He was however accused and convicted on lesser charges of witness tampering during the trial.
Kamerhe, an influential Congolese power broker, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2020 for embezzling nearly $50 million from a presidential economic program.
He denied the charges.
His sentence was reduced to 13 years on appeal the following year, however, in June 2022, a higher court overturned the judgment.
By Agencies
