Background Briefing

Introduction

Senegal has requested the support of international donors for the investigation and trial of former Chadian President, Hissène Habré, whom Senegal has agreed to prosecute at the request of the African Union (AU). This paper seeks to identify some of the critical issues of importance for potential donors of Habré’s trial. It should be read together with the longer Human Rights Watch background paper from January 2007, “The Trial of Hissène Habré: Time is Running Out for the Victims.”1

The Habré case provides a golden opportunity to strike a blow against the scourge of impunity. Habré is accused of massive crimes, which are well documented in the files of his own political police. Chad supports the prosecution. The UN Committee Against Torture has enjoined Senegal to prosecute or extradite Habré. The African Union has mandated Senegal “to prosecute and ensure that Hissène Habré is tried, on behalf of Africa, by a competent Senegalese court with guarantees for a fair trial.”

The trial of Hissène Habré, if carried out fairly and in accordance with international standards for the rights of the accused, would be a milestone in the fight to hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable for their crimes.

The agreement by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal in July 2006 to try Hissène Habré was also a turning point in the 17-year campaign by Habré’s victims to bring him to justice.

However, more than 17 months have passed since that agreement, and proceedings have not yet begun. The challenges lying ahead should furthermore not be underestimated. In particular, Senegal is now faced with the complex and costly task of investigating and prosecuting massive crimes committed many years ago in another country. In addition, Hissène Habré’s supporters in Senegal form a powerful pressure group which has tried to prevent him from facing justice.



1 Human Rights Watch, Chad — The Trial of Hissène Habré: Time is Running Out for the Victims, Number 2, January 2007, http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/africa/habre0107/index.htm.