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Former Chad president, Hissène Habré by Senegal authorities in agreement with AU – to be tried soon
Hissène Habré
(Reuters) – Hissène Habré, Chad’s former leader, was arrested on Sunday in Senegal, where he has been living in freely in exile for 22 years despite accusations of political killing and torture during his time in power, a court spokesman said.
Habré, who led Chad between 1982 and 1990, will be tried in a special court set up this year by Senegalese authorities in agreement with the African Union.
The case against Habré follows years of foot dragging by Senegal under former president Abdoulayé Wade. It will be first time the former leader of an African state has been tried by another.
“He was arrested this morning and placed in police custody after a request by the prosecutor,” said Marcel Mendy, the court’s spokesman.
Mendy did not give any further details on the arrest. Habré is not actually expected to appear before the court before early 2015 as investigations by the court’s prosecutors are ongoing.
Local media published photos of Habré, being led away by security forces from his mansion in the capital, Dakar.
There was no immediate comment from Habré’s lawyers.
“The wheels of justice are turning”, said Reed Brody, counsel for Human Rights Watch who has worked with Habré’s victims since 1999. “After 22 years, Habré’s victims can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”