Human Rights Watch has produced a 10-minute video “The Trial of Hissène Habré“ highlighting the historic trial of former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré, who was brought to justice by victims of his crimes.
Habré was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Extraordinary African Chamber in Dakar, Senegal. The trial is the first case where a former African head of state has been tried under extraterritorial jurisdiction. More than 25 years after he was deposed, and despite political and legal hiccups, a surly Habré was brought face to face with his victims in Senegal on July 20, 2015.
The judgment in the Habré case was delivered on May 30, 2016 by EAC Chief Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam of Burkina Faso. Habré’s court-appointed lawyers appealed the conviction but the victims cross-appealed the decision on the compensation. The decision in the appeal of Habré’s conviction was read on April 27, 2017.
Click this link to view the updated video, as Habré’s victims step up their campaign to receive the reparations they have been awarded by courts in both Senegal and Chad.
