Former VP Bemba joins Congo President Tshisekedi's reshuffle ahead of election.

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has appointed former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was detained for over 10 years for war crimes, as the country's defence minister in a sweeping government reshuffle ahead of an expected presidential election on Dec. 20. The reshuffle also saw the appointment of Vital Kamerhe, Tshisekedi's former chief of staff who was released from prison in Dec. 2021 following an embezzlement conviction, as economy minister. The appointments bring political heavyweights into the government, strengthening Tshisekedi's coalition ahead of elections.