Congo president appoints former militia leader as Minister

President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has appointed a former militia leader, once convicted of war crimes, as his new defense minister.

Jean Pierre Bemba, a former Congolese vice-president, was cleared on appeal by the International Criminal Court in 2018.

He was convicted of failing to prevent his militia from committing crimes.

His appointment comes as the Congolese army battles the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east of the country.

The changes come as the country is due to go to the polls in December in which Tshisekedi is expected to run for re-election.