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| Jean-Pierre Bemba: Congo warlord's conviction overturned | Jean-Pierre Bemba: Congo warlord's conviction overturned |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The International Criminal Court (ICC) has overturned the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity of former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. | The International Criminal Court (ICC) has overturned the conviction for war crimes and crimes against humanity of former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. |
| Bemba was found guilty in 2016 of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002-2003. | Bemba was found guilty in 2016 of crimes committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002-2003. |
| He was accused of failing to stop his rebels from killing and raping people. | He was accused of failing to stop his rebels from killing and raping people. |
| But a judge has now said he cannot be held responsible for their actions. | But a judge has now said he cannot be held responsible for their actions. |
| Christine Van den Wijngaert also said the judges in the 2016 case had failed to take into account his attempts to stop the crimes once he was made aware they were taking place. | Christine Van den Wijngaert also said the judges in the 2016 case had failed to take into account his attempts to stop the crimes once he was made aware they were taking place. |
| The decision to overturn the 18-year sentence was greeted by cheers from his supporters in the gallery. | |
| But human rights group Amnesty International said it was a "huge blow" for the victims of a "horrifying campaign of rape and sexual violence", as it called on the authorities to redouble their efforts to prosecute those who had carried it out. | But human rights group Amnesty International said it was a "huge blow" for the victims of a "horrifying campaign of rape and sexual violence", as it called on the authorities to redouble their efforts to prosecute those who had carried it out. |
| More than 5,000 survivors took part in the proceedings against Bemba, said Amnesty's head of international justice, Solomon Sacco. | More than 5,000 survivors took part in the proceedings against Bemba, said Amnesty's head of international justice, Solomon Sacco. |
| "For these brave individuals, as well as thousands of other victims in CAR, the pursuit of truth, justice and reparations will continue," he added. | "For these brave individuals, as well as thousands of other victims in CAR, the pursuit of truth, justice and reparations will continue," he added. |
| Landmark | Landmark |
| Bemba's 2016 conviction marked several milestones for the ICC. It was the first time the court had focused on rape as a weapon of war, and the first time a suspect had been convicted for crimes committed by others under his command. | Bemba's 2016 conviction marked several milestones for the ICC. It was the first time the court had focused on rape as a weapon of war, and the first time a suspect had been convicted for crimes committed by others under his command. |
| The court had heard how Bemba had sent more than 1,000 fighters to the CAR back in 2002 to help then President Ange Felix Patasse put down an attempted coup. | |
| But his troops committed acts of extreme violence against civilians - crimes which the original judges said Bemba was made aware of but did nothing to stop. | But his troops committed acts of extreme violence against civilians - crimes which the original judges said Bemba was made aware of but did nothing to stop. |
| But appeal Judge Van den Wyngaert said they had "ignored significant testimonial evidence that Bemba's ability to investigate and punish crimes in the CAR was limited". | But appeal Judge Van den Wyngaert said they had "ignored significant testimonial evidence that Bemba's ability to investigate and punish crimes in the CAR was limited". |
| Appeal judges also said he had been "erroneously" convicted for specific criminal acts. | Appeal judges also said he had been "erroneously" convicted for specific criminal acts. |
| Bemba, who has already spent almost a decade in jail, will not be immediately released prison after he lost a separate appeal against a conviction for bribing witnesses during his main trial. | Bemba, who has already spent almost a decade in jail, will not be immediately released prison after he lost a separate appeal against a conviction for bribing witnesses during his main trial. |
| CAR, meanwhile, has remained in an almost constant state of turmoil. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned in January that half its population was in need of humanitarian aid, while the United Nations has had a peacekeeping force in the country since 2013. | |
| A report by Human Rights Watch in October 2017 said fighters in its most recent conflict, which has been raging for more than five years, continued to use sexual violence to "terrorise women and children". | |
| Who is Jean-Pierre Bemba? | Who is Jean-Pierre Bemba? |