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| Hissene Habre: Chad ex-leader's war crimes trial verdict due | Hissene Habre: Chad ex-leader's war crimes trial verdict due |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A verdict is due in the landmark war crimes trial of Chad's ex-leader Hissene Habre in Senegal. | A verdict is due in the landmark war crimes trial of Chad's ex-leader Hissene Habre in Senegal. |
| It is the first time an African Union-backed court has tried a former ruler for alleged human rights abuses. | It is the first time an African Union-backed court has tried a former ruler for alleged human rights abuses. |
| The prosecutor at the court in Senegal's capital Dakar has requested a life sentence for Mr Habre, who refuses to recognise its legitimacy. | The prosecutor at the court in Senegal's capital Dakar has requested a life sentence for Mr Habre, who refuses to recognise its legitimacy. |
| The ex-president denies accusations that he ordered the killing of 40,000 people during his rule in the 1980s. | |
| Mr Habre frequently disrupted proceedings during his trial. He shouted abuse, called the process "a farce", and had to be carried into the court after refusing to appear. | |
| His critics dubbed him "Africa's Pinochet" because of the atrocities allegedly committed during his rule from 1982 to 1990. | |
| Habre was arrested in Senegal, where he was exiled, in 2013. | Habre was arrested in Senegal, where he was exiled, in 2013. |
| Many of his alleged victims campaigned for him to be tried, following his overthrow in 1990. | |
| In 2005, a court in Belgium issued a warrant for his arrest, claiming universal jurisdiction but, after Senegal referred the issue to the African Union, the AU asked Senegal to try Mr Habre "on behalf of Africa". | In 2005, a court in Belgium issued a warrant for his arrest, claiming universal jurisdiction but, after Senegal referred the issue to the African Union, the AU asked Senegal to try Mr Habre "on behalf of Africa". |
| In 2013, a court in Chad sentenced him to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. | In 2013, a court in Chad sentenced him to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. |
| Who is Hissene Habre? | Who is Hissene Habre? |
| • Born in 1942 to ethnic Toubou herders in northern Chad | • Born in 1942 to ethnic Toubou herders in northern Chad |
| • Given scholarship to study political science in France | • Given scholarship to study political science in France |
| • First came to the world's attention in 1974 when his rebels captured three European hostages to ransom for money and arms | • First came to the world's attention in 1974 when his rebels captured three European hostages to ransom for money and arms |
| • Seized power in 1982 allegedly with the help of the CIA ousted by current President Idriss Deby in 1990 | • Seized power in 1982 allegedly with the help of the CIA ousted by current President Idriss Deby in 1990 |
| • Accused of systematically persecuting groups he distrusted | • Accused of systematically persecuting groups he distrusted |
| • A former swimming pool was used as an underground prison where survivors say they were subjected to electric shocks, near-asphyxia and "supplice des baguettes", when their heads were squeezed between sticks | • A former swimming pool was used as an underground prison where survivors say they were subjected to electric shocks, near-asphyxia and "supplice des baguettes", when their heads were squeezed between sticks |
| Battle to bring Habre to court | Battle to bring Habre to court |
| Profile: Hissene Habre | Profile: Hissene Habre |