Former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré found guilty of crimes against humanity 25 years after. The FATE that awaits Buhari

Chad’s former dictator Hissene Habré during court proceedings in Dakar, 30 May 2016. Photograph: Carley Petesch/AP

The former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, has been found guilty of crimes against humanity, summary execution, torture and rape at a landmark trial in Senegal.

Habré was sentenced to life in prison making him the first African former head of state to be convicted in Africa, and the first former head of any state to be convicted of crimes against humanity by the courts of another country. It is also the first time that a former head of state has been convicted of personally raping someone.

The verdict today will be sending jitters to dictators like Yakubu Gowon and especially Muhammadu Buhari, whose soldiers have continued to kill innocent Biafrans.

“This verdict sends a powerful message that the days when tyrants could brutalise their people, pillage their treasury and escape abroad to a life of luxury are coming to an end. Today will be carved into history as the day that a band of unrelenting survivors brought their dictator to justice,” Reed Brody, a Human Rights Watch activist said.

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Dressed in white robes, with a white turban wrapped round his face, Habré’s eyes closed behind his sunglasses as Gbertao Kam, the court judge, read the verdict.

Kam said: “Hissène Habré, the court finds you guilty of summary executions, forced disappearances, torture, murder. Some victims who are still alive still suffer from the effects of his regime – the crimes committed against them. He [Habré] created a system where impunity and terror reigned. He did not show any compassion toward the victims or express any regret about the massacres and rapes that were committed.”

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“Vive la victoire!” shouted victims of the former dictator, as other cheered, ululated, hugged each other and wept. 

Habré has been living in Dakar for 26 years, allegedly funding his stay with millions he stole from Chad just before leaving after he was ousted in a coup.

Reed Brody, a Human Rights Watch activist who has worked with Habré’s victims, said: “Habré’s conviction for these horrific crimes after 25 years is a huge victory for his Chadian victims, without whose tenacity this trial never would have happened.