Bemba leaves DR Congo
Defeated presidential candidate leaves for medical treatment in Portugal.
Portuguese diplomats have said Bemba is not moving into long-term exile in the country.
A convoy of around 15 armoured vehicles belonging to the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in Congo (Monuc) took Bemba to the airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Tanks and blue-helmeted riot police stood guard at the N’Djili airport outside the city, but there were no crowds or violence. The only people present were a small group of reporters.
Kemal Saiki, spokesman for the UN mission, said in a statement: “Upon the request of Congolese authorities and following authorisation to leave national territory … Monuc assisted in [Bemba’s] departure.”
Bemba, who led a Ugandan-backed rebellion against the Kinshasa government in Congo’s 1998-2003 war, lost a presidential run-off in October to incumbent Joseph Kabila in the vast, mineral-rich central African state’s first free polls in more than 40 years.
Bemba’s several hundred fighters were beaten and he took refuge in the South African embassy.
Government officials initially said a warrant had been issued for his arrest for high treason, but said later such a warrant could not be issued unless the senate lifts the immunity he enjoys as a member.
The private radio and television stations owned by Bemba have not been allowed to broadcast since the clashes. The TV station, as well as his party headquarters, have been occupied by government troops and the homes of several of his political allies have been ransacked.
Bemba, who led a Uganda-backed rebellion against the government during the country’s 1998-2003 war, lost a presidential run-off to Joseph Kabila last October.
The central African state’s first free elections in more than 40 years had been intended to bring an end to years of chaos and violence but tensions between rival groups remain.