A special court in Senegal on Monday sentenced former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre to life in prison for war crimes, crimes against humanity and a litany of other charges, including rape. The verdict brings a long-awaited day of reckoning to up to 40,000 people kidnapped, raped and tortured under his rule as President of Chad from 1982-1990.
“Hissene Habre, this court finds you guilty of crimes against humanity, rape, forced slavery, and kidnapping,” as well as war crimes, said Gberdao Gustave Kam, president of the special court.
“The court condemns you to life in prison,” Kam added. The court also heard that Habre had raped a woman named Khadija Hassan Zidane on several occasions. Upon hearing the verdict, Habre raised his arms into the air, shouting “Down with France-afrique!” referring to the term used for France’s continuing influence on its former colonies.
The case was heard at the Extraordinary African Chambers (CAE) — a special tribunal set up by the African Union under a deal with Senegal — and is the first time a country has prosecuted a former leader of another nation for rights abuses.
