Why Justice for Hissène Habré’s Victims Remains Denied in Chad

The Continued Denial of Justice: The Victims of Hissène Habré’s Regime

It has been over seven years since the landmark conviction of the former Chadian President, Hissène Habré, in a Senegalese court. Habré was found guilty of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture, including sexual violence and rape. However, the victims of Habré’s regime, represented by seven Chadian and international organizations, have yet to receive the court-ordered reparations that they were promised. The African Union and the government of Chad have not made any efforts to fulfill their obligations towards the victims.

The Victims’ Plight

The victims of Habré’s regime are heroes who have fought for 25 years to bring their oppressor to justice. Despite being awarded millions of dollars, these victims await long overdue justice, as not a single cent has been paid. Recently, two active victims, Ginette Ngarbaye and Fatime Kagone Tchangdoum, have passed away.

According to the Association of Victims of the Crimes of Hissène Habré (AVCRHH), some 400 direct and indirect victims have passed away since the 2016 verdict. The Chadian court awarded 75 billion CFA francs (US$119 million) in reparations to 7,000 victims, with the government and the convicted agents splitting the payment. The government was also directed to erect a monument and a museum to honor the victims, but none of these obligations has been fulfilled.

The Failure of the African Union and the Government of Chad

The most remarkable aspect is the failure of the African Union and the government of Chad to fulfill their obligations. Habré’s trial remains the only one in the world in which the courts of one country convicted the former ruler of another for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is considered a significant milestone for justice in Africa. Despite such a note-worthy achievement, a reparations fund established to pay the victims has yet to become operational.

The African Union had allocated $5 million to the Trust Fund, but it had yet to begin work six years after the appeals court order. In September 2021, the organization sent a delegation to Chad, but it was not able to create a work plan or render the fund operational. The organization’s second delegation arrived in August 2022, but no progress was made. While the Chad government has publicly announced a donation of 10 billion CFA francs, this amount has not been received, according to the African Union.

The Need for Action

The victims of Habré’s regime have been denied justice for far too long. It is time for the African Union and the government of Chad to fulfill their legal obligations by implementing court decisions and paying the reparations that were promised to the victims.

The African Union can start by raising funds as mandated by a Senegalese court to compensate the victims. It must also ensure that Habré’s assets are seized to fund the Trust Fund. The government of Chad must allocate and release the promised 10 billion CFA francs to the compensation fund to pay the victims immediately without any hesitation.

The mandate of the reparations fund serves as a reminder that justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done. The delay in implementing these court decisions perpetuates injustice and further compounds the trauma that the victims already face. It is time for the African Union and the Chad government to act.

As Adoumbaye Dam Pierre, president of AVCRHH and a former prisoner under Habré, says, “The African Union and the Chadian government need to come together and implement these court decisions so that the victims, at long last, can receive reparations for what we suffered.”