Jeannot Bemba Saolona
Encyclopedia
Jeannot Bemba Saolona was a Congolese businessman, Minister of the Economy and Industry, and Senator for Équateur
. His son Jean-Pierre Bemba
became the last Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bemba Saolona's company, Scibe CMMJ
, was implicated by the United Nations
in smuggling weapons to UNITA
during the Angolan Civil War
. He was a close confidant to President Mobutu Sese Seko
.
Équateur
Équateur is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is in the north of the country, and bordered the Republic of the Congo to the west, the Central African Republic to the north, to the east the Orientale province, and to the south the Kasai-Oriental, Kasai-Occidental, and...
. His son Jean-Pierre Bemba
Jean-Pierre Bemba
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was one of four vice-presidents in the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 17 July 2003 to December 2006. Bemba also leads the Movement for the Liberation of Congo , a rebel group...
became the last Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bemba Saolona's company, Scibe CMMJ
Scibe Airlift
Scibe Airlift is an airline based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It operates from N'Djili Airport, Kinshasa.The airline was on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union, as were all airlines regulated by the authorities in the DRC.The airline started activities with a single...
, was implicated by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in smuggling weapons to UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
during the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
. He was a close confidant to President Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
.