African war crimes suspect transferred to International Criminal Court

Belgian authorities today transferred Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, to the Court’s detention centre in The Hague.

Mr. Bemba – President and Commander in Chief of the Mouvement de libération du Congo (MLC), an armed group that intervened in the 2002-2003 armed conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) – is alleged to be criminally responsible for five counts of war crimes and three counts of crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the CAR from 25 October 2002 to 15 March 2003.

“Justice is coming for the victims, for the victims of the Central African Republic, for the victims of massive sexual violence worldwide,” ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said, welcoming the transfer of Mr. Bemba.

He thanked the Belgian authorities for their efforts relating to the arrest and transfer of Mr. Bemba. “The case of Jean-Pierre Bemba is a text book example of how cooperation should work; it is such cooperation, by all States parties, which makes this Court, 10 years after the adoption of the Rome Statute, a reality,” he said.

Mr. Bemba’s initial appearance before the Pre-Trial Chamber is scheduled for tomorrow.