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Hissène Habré, Ex-Ruler of Chad, Loses War Crimes Appeal Hissène Habré, Ex-Ruler of Chad, Loses War Crimes Appeal
(about 13 hours later)
DAKAR, Senegal — A court in Senegal on Thursday upheld the war crimes conviction of Hissène Habré, the former leader of a murderous regime in Chad, keeping in place a life sentence and establishing a trust fund for scores of victims who fought for years to bring him to justice. DAKAR, Senegal — A court in Senegal on Thursday upheld the war crimes conviction of Hissène Habré, the former leader of a murderous government in Chad, keeping in place a life sentence and establishing a trust fund for the scores of victims who fought for years to bring him to justice.
It took an hour for the court to read a summary of its more than 200-page ruling on an appeal from Mr. Habré, who did not appear in court. Mr. Habré has dismissed the entire case against him as sham justice by a court that he has contended has no jurisdiction. It took an hour for the court to read a summary of its more than 200-page ruling on an appeal from Mr. Habré, who did not appear in court. He has dismissed the entire case against him as sham justice by a court that he contends has no jurisdiction over the case.
Reed Brody, a lawyer who has pursued the case since 1999 on behalf of victims, said the ruling was significant. “Habré’s life sentence is a powerful message that the days when tyrants could brutalize their people, pillage their treasury and escape abroad to a life of luxury are coming to an end,” he said. “Habré’s life sentence is a powerful message that the days when tyrants could brutalize their people, pillage their treasury and escape abroad to a life of luxury are coming to an end,” said Reed Brody, a lawyer who has doggedly pursued the case since 1999 on behalf of victims.
A special court was created in Senegal, where Mr. Habré has been living in exile, to hear his case. The court convicted him last May of crimes against humanity and of torture. The panel of judges on Thursday dismissed a sex crimes charge against Mr. Habré. A special court created to hear Mr. Habré’s case in Senegal, where he has been living in exile, convicted him last May of crimes against humanity and torture. The panel of judges on Thursday threw out a sex crimes charge.
Some of Mr. Habré’s victims were in court to hear the ruling.Some of Mr. Habré’s victims were in court to hear the ruling.
“I’m so happy,” said Souleymane Guengueng, who nearly died of mistreatment and disease in Mr. Habré’s prisons. “I hope that all the dictators in Africa take notice — no one is above the law.” “This shows that no matter who the person is, if he commits a crime and runs away, no matter where he is hiding, we the citizens can still go for him and bring him to face justice,” said Souleymane Guengueng, who nearly died of mistreatment and disease in Mr. Habré’s prisons.
Rights advocates credit Mr. Guengueng’s meticulous record-keeping for helping secure a conviction. He recorded the testimonies of hundreds of victims and their family members who suffered under Mr. Habré’s rule. Human rights advocates credit Mr. Guengueng’s meticulous record-keeping and years of work by other victims with helping secure a victory in the case. Mr. Guengueng recorded the testimonies of hundreds of victims and their family members who suffered under the rule of Mr. Habré.
According to a Chadian truth commission, Mr. Habré’s government killed more than 40,000 people who were accused of being enemies of the state, or who had merely come under suspicion. He was president from 1982 to 1990, when he was deposed by the current president, Idriss Déby.According to a Chadian truth commission, Mr. Habré’s government killed more than 40,000 people who were accused of being enemies of the state, or who had merely come under suspicion. He was president from 1982 to 1990, when he was deposed by the current president, Idriss Déby.
The ruling on Thursday cements a court victory that will be used as a blueprint to hunt dictators across the world, rights experts said. The ruling also established a $136 million trust fund, to be run by the African Union, to aid thousands affected by Mr. Habré’s brutality. François Serres, Mr. Habré’s lawyer, who was in court with Mr. Habré’s brother and other supporters on Thursday, said he wanted his client to be moved out of a Senegalese prison where Mr. Serres said he was being poorly treated.
Mr. Habré’s victims are still working to track his wealth, a complicated endeavor involving bank accounts in several nations. The court has frozen some assets belonging to the former president, including a house in an upscale neighborhood of Dakar, the Senegalese capital, that is thought to be worth about $750,000 and some bank accounts. “The court is closing its doors on an unfair trial,” Mr. Serres said. “This trial has been politically motivated from the beginning.”
Thursday’s ruling also established a $136 million trust fund, to be run by the African Union, to aid thousands of victims.
“Mr. Habré is now gone, finally,” said Abdourahmane Guèye, who was tortured in prison while Mr. Habré was in power and who attended the court session on Thursday. “Our hope is the African Union will help the victims get the justice needed from this trust fund.”
Mr. Habré’s victims are still working to track his wealth, a complicated endeavor involving bank accounts in several nations. The court has frozen some assets belonging to Mr. Habré, including a house in an upscale neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal, thought to be worth about $750,000, and some small bank accounts.
The ruling on Thursday cemented a legal victory that will be used as a blueprint to prosecute dictators across the world, human rights experts said.
Earlier this week, Mr. Brody led Chadian victims of Mr. Habré’s government to Gambia to meet with victims of former President Yahya Jammeh, as part of an exploration of how to pursue charges against Mr. Jammeh.
Mr. Jammeh is accused of torturing and imprisoning opponents and journalists during his more than two decades in power. He lost an election in December but gave up the presidency only under the threat of military intervention from neighboring countries.
The authorities in Gambia have started an investigation into possible human rights crimes by Mr. Jammeh. In March, Gambian security forces uncovered bodies, believed to be victims of Mr. Jammeh, buried about 70 miles outside the capital in secret graves. Gambia’s new government has said it will set up a committee to investigate the accusations.
An official from Gambia’s Justice Ministry said that several victims had come forward, but that the ministry was still just beginning to set up its inquiry.
Fatoumatta Sandeng, the daughter of Solo Sandeng, a Gambian opposition activist who was arrested during a peaceful protest in 2016 and later died in custody during Mr. Jammeh’s rule, met with Mr. Habré’s victims this week.
Ms. Sandeng said that after the meeting, she and others in Gambia believed that the voices of victims mattered. She said she hoped Mr. Jammeh’s victims would not have to wait too long for justice.
“I pray the trail for Jammeh starts soon,” Ms. Sandeng said. “Habré’s victims waited for too long; we should not wait for that long.”