Congo President Tshisekedi brings in former VP Bemba in reshuffle ahead of election

FILE PHOTO-Congolese opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (MLC) waves to his supporters as he arrives at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo June 23, 2019. REUTERS/Kenny Katombe

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has appointed the country's 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.

His appointment was part of an overhaul of the 57 members of government, which the president's spokesperson said was "urgent and necessary", in an announcement on Congo's national television late on Thursday. No further details were given.