Reports

The United States and Chad’s Hissène Habré 1982-1990

This report describes how France, and especially the United States, were pivotal in bringing Habré to power, although signs of his brutality were already evident. The two countries saw Habré as a bulwark against the expansionist designs of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, whose forces were occupying northern Chad. Human Rights Watch details how both the United States and France continued to provide Habré’s government with critical support, even as it committed widespread and systematic human rights violations.

Chadian president Hissène Habré with US president Ronald Reagan at the White House June 1987. Courtesy of Ronal
A woman looks out of the window of a damaged building

Search

  • December 1, 2007

    A Memo for International Donors

    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.”

  • January 26, 2007

    Time is Running Out for the Victims

    In this paper, Human Rights Watch noted that Senegal had not even passed the legislation needed to try Habré. Human Rights Watch called on the African Union to name a special envoy to help Senegal prepare Habré’s trial.

  • April 1, 2006

    Submission to the Committee of Eminent African Jurists

    This paper examines Senegal’s legal obligations as well as the different options for bringing Mr. Habré to justice. It notes that—whatever the outcome of the A.U. review—Senegal is under an obligation to prosecute or to extradite Hissène Habré.

  • July 12, 2005

    Nearly fifteen years after the fall of Chad’s brutal Cold War dictator, Hissène Habré, dozens of his henchmen still hold key positions of power, including top state security jobs. Meanwhile, the thousands of victims of torture and killings under Habré’s rule have never received compensation or recognition from Chad’s current government.

  • October 20, 2004

    A Belgian judge has issued an international arrest warrant charging Chad’s exiled former president, Hissène Habré, with human rights crimes committed during his 1982-90 rule. Habré lives in exile in Senegal, where he was indicted four years ago before courts ruled that he could not be tried there.