Chad dictator in the dock calls accusers traitors to Africa
THE former dictator of Chad and his supporters were led shouting from the court yesterday at the start of his trial.
Hissène Habré, 72, is accused of planning the torture and murder of tens of thousands of people and is the subject of the first universal jurisdiction trial, held in Senegal, of an African leader.
The former dictator, who ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990 and denies any knowledge of atrocities, had said he would boycott the trial, heard by the newly created Special African Chamber, but he was marshalled into the Dakar court yesterday morning by custody officers.
In the dock, he shouted out: “Down with imperialists! It is a farce by rotten Senegalese politicians! African traitors! Valet of America!” He was then removed.
Several supporters, mostly young, screamed slogans and scuffled with police as they too were removed. “I am sad, I am ashamed this is happening in a country like Senegal,” one of Mr Habré’s supporters said.
When the judges entered, opening statements were heard from the prosecutor and a lawyer representing some of the victims’ families. The prosecutor said statements had been taken from more than 2,000 people, and the legal teams had visited mass grave sites in Chad.
Jacqueline Moudeina, the victims’ lawyer, reminded the judges of the significance of the case. “The world watches you, it watches us,” she said.
The trial, which was attended by 1,000 participants, spectators and journalists, was punctuated by a series of adjournments as attempts were made to bring Mr Habré to the dock. Eventually, he issued a statement which was read to the court, which alleged he had been “kidnapped”.
The court adjourned for the day with the judges ruling the defendant be brought in by force the next day.