Bemba Case

The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo

ICC-01/05-01/08

Found guilty, on 21 March 2016, of two counts of crimes against humanity (murder and rape) and three counts of war crimes (murder, rape, and pillaging). The crimes were committed in Central African Republic ("CAR") from on or about 26 October 2002 to 15 March 2003 ("2002-2003 CAR Operation") by a contingent of Mouvement de Libération du Congo ("MLC") troops. Mr Bemba was a person effectively acting as a military commander with effective authority and control over the forces that committed the crimes. Sentenced, on 21 June 2016, to 18 years of imprisonment.

Next steps: appeals and victims' reparations

Case information sheet: English, Français

Selected documents

10 June 2008
Warrant of Arrest for Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo

15 June 2009
Decision on the confirmation of charges against Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo

14 August 2009
Decision on the interim release of Jen-Pierre Bemba Gombo

2 December 2009
Appeal Chamber Judgment on interim release

21 March 2016
Judgment pursuant to Article 74 of the Statute

21 June 2016
Decision on Sentence pursuant to Article 76 of the Statute

Trial Chamber III

Who else is involved?

Representation of the Office of the Prosecutor

Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor
James Stewart, Deputy Prosecutor
Jean-Jacques Badibanga, Senior Trial Lawyer

Defence Counsel

Peter Haynes, Lead Counsel
Kate Gibson, Associate Counsel

Legal Representatives of the Victims

Marie Edith Douzima-Lawson

Office of Public Counsel for Victims

Next Session

No upcoming hearings

Print case information sheet (PDF, 1 MB)

Cases CSS

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo
Convicted
President and Commander-in-chief of the Mouvement de libération du Congo (Movement for the Liberation of Congo) (MLC), at time of warrant. Arrest warrant: 10 June 2008
Charges: two counts of crimes against humanity: murder and rape; and three counts of war crimes: murder, rape and pillaging, allegedly committed between 2002 and 2003 in CAR.
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