Former Chadian President‘s trial resumes

The trial of former Chadian leader Hissène Habré is set to resume today in Senegal.  Hissène is accused of tens of thousands of political killings as well as torture during his rule.

It is estimated that over 40,000 people were executed in politically motivated killings and more than 200,000 tortured during his regime as the president. He now faces charges of crimes against humanity, torture and rape in a Senegalese court set up with the African Union (AU). Habre has since denied killing or torturing anyone.

In 2012, the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Senegal to put him on trial or extradite him to face justice abroad. During the first hearings, Habre refused to reply to any charges but later the court asked him to come up with a legal team that will represent him. When overthrown by current President Idrissy Deby in 1990, Habre fled to Senegal where he was placed under house arrest from 2005 until his arrest in 2013.

If found guilty, Habrè will be entitled to appeal, as may the prosecutor against any acquittal on charges. In the event of a guilty verdict there will be a second set of hearings on damages for the civil parties and other victims.