Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ex-warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba, accused of treason after his militia fought government forces, is expected to travel to Portugal this weekend but has no deal for exile there, the Portuguese ambassador said on Friday.
There have been intense diplomatic negotiations about the future of the former presidential contender, whose personal guard fought a two-day battle in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, at the end of last week after refusing an order to disarm.
The clashes, in which up to 600 people were reported killed, were a blow to international hopes for a fast consolidation of democracy in the DRC, following last year’s landmark elections in the former Belgian colony.
Bemba’s forces were routed, he took refuge with his family in the South African embassy and the government ordered his arrest for high treason. Diplomats said he would travel to Portugal, fuelling speculation he might go into long-term exile.
But Portugal’s embassy denied any exile deal.
”There’s no exile. He will leave this weekend in principle if all aspects of the agreements [for Bemba’s departure] are in place … he’ll be there as a tourist,” Ambassador Alfredo Duarte Costa, told Reuters.
He added Bemba would go to Portugal for medical treatment. Aides have said he needs follow-up treatment for a leg fractured in December.
Negotiations with the Congolese government over the terms of his departure were continuing, but Costa gave no details.
Asked if or when Bemba might return to the DRC, the ambassador added: ”I can’t tell you that”.
Last week’s fighting was the worst in Kinshasa since DRC held its first free democratic elections in more than 40 years, aimed at restoring peace to the mineral-rich central African state after a 1998-2003 war. — Reuters