Tag Archives: democratic republic of congo

Opinion: Lessons from the local elections – a Congolese point of view

By David Lloyd Mayala | Tue 7th May 2013 - 11:00 am

Last week local elections took place up and down the UK. As local elections go, I know these caused more of a stir than most because of the UK Independence Party’s strong showing. The elections also prompted much personal interest for me as this was the first time I rolled up my sleeves and got involved in political campaigning in the UK.

Coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, elections and the electoral process are in their infancy. Since our nation’s chaotic independence from Belgium in 1960, there have been only two multiparty national elections. The one-party government under the 32 …

Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged local elections 2013 | 5 Comments

War crimes trial starts for Jean-Pierre Bemba

By Mark Pack | Sun 28th November 2010 - 1:24 pm

During the week the trial for war crimes of former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba began in The Hague.

Any trial at the International Criminal Court is notable given the severity of the crimes that have to alleged to get before the court, but Bemba’s case has two particular features.

Bemba is the highest profile politician to have been brought before the court (Slobodan Milošević was being tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia when he died).

In addition, Jean-Pierre Bemba’s trial is the first before the ICC to centre on rape, with allegations of mass rapes leading …