Chad's former dictator Hissene Habre, who ruled the country from 1982 to 1990 will go on trial today Monday for alleged war crimes, which include 40,000 murders during his regime. Habre, dubbed Africa's Pinochet is on trial in Senegal over his regime's brutality and notorious atrocities committed during his infamous rule. The Chadian despot is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture. He has lived in Senegal since he was overthrown.
According to online reports, a spokesman for Human Rights Watch, Reed Brody said he was actively
involved in the campaign for the trials of Augusto Pinochet and Baby Doc
Duvalier and has been working for more than 15 years to help victims
get this case to trial.
He said: “This is the first time that the courts of one country,
Senegal, are going to be trying the former leader of another country,
Chad, for alleged human rights crimes.
“And this case, after 25 years, is the result of a campaign by
Hissene Habre’s victims who are the architects and the protagonists of
this.”
Although Habre has refused to recognise the legitimacy of the court and has decided not to cooperate with the hearings, he faces sentences ranging from 30 years to life with hard labour if found guilty.
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