Africa

By Adama Dieng

The forces allied to the two main parties to the conflict in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, continue to inflict pain, suffering and despair on the South Sudanese people as a result of their unwillingness to take the necessary steps to end the civil war. Since fighting started in December 2013, both government and rebel forces have reportedly committed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including extrajudicial killings, mass rape, torture, arbitrary detention, pillaging, forced displacement and have reportedly attacked protected personnel and sites, including United Nations personnel and property. In June this year, the United Nations reported vicious attacks against civilians in Unity State by government forces, including the mass rape of women and girls, some of whom were reportedly burnt alive. The brutality and cruelty of these attacks defies imagination. Thousands of civilians have been killed to date, more than one and a half million people have been displaced and some seven hundred thousand have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Given the widespread and systematic nature of attacks against civilians, some may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity and those responsible must be held accountable.

While the South Sudanese people continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, their leaders have been engaged in endless rounds of talks, traveling back and forth between South Sudan, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). These talks have so far failed to produce meaningful results or alleviate in any way the suffering of the South Sudanese. Fighting continues unabated, as do violations and abuses by both sides. This, despite the best efforts of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party and South Africa's ruling African National Congress. We have to ask ourselves whether the lives of the South Sudanese really matter to Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, or to their neighbours, the regional leadership or the rest of the world.

I was among those whose hopes were raised by the establishment on 7 March 2014 of an African Union commission of inquiry on South Sudan, the first such commission to be established since the African Union was founded. The Commission was mandated to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses committed during the conflict, assess the underlying causes and, importantly, to make recommendations on accountability, reconciliation and ways to deter and prevent recurrence of violations in the future. Olusegun Obasanjo, an eminent statesman and former President of Nigeria, was appointed to lead the Commission.

Reaction to the establishment of the Commission was mixed. Some saw it as a way to pre-empt the establishment of a United Nations investigation that might recommend prosecution of those leaders responsible for crimes committed in South Sudan. Personally, I was delighted that for once the African Union had demonstrated willingness to deal with the impunity that has too often accompanied violence on the African continent. I believed that a successful investigation could send a strong message that the regional body would not shield from justice political leaders responsible for crimes committed against their people. In the Op Ed I issued on 9 April 2014 that heralded the African Union's initiative, I also cautioned, however, that the world would be watching to see if the African Union would deliver on its promise.

Almost a year after it completed its work, and six months after the Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), there is a deafening silence. The AUPSC has so far avoided discussing the Commission's findings, which have not been made public. No action has been taken to implement its recommendations.

When I met President Kiir and Riek Machar in South Sudan in April 2014, both stated their commitment to accountability, promising that those responsible for atrocities would face justice. They both said that they would support the inclusion of accountability measures in a comprehensive peace agreement. Indeed, in the initial agreement signed in January 2015, they committed to establishing a judicial mechanism to prosecute those who had committed atrocity crimes.

What rationale could there be, then, for holding the Commission of Inquiry report hostage? It would be a mistake to think that sustainable peace, reconciliation and national healing can be achieved in South Sudan without any kind of accountability for the crimes committed. Amnesty is not an option. In addition, those who oppose accountability could be seen to be indirectly abetting the atrocities in South Sudan by protecting the perpetrators.

The mantra of “African solutions for African problems” sounds hollow when it is not backed up by action. Africa must stand up for its people. Leaders who turn against their own and inflict on them the kind of suffering we have witnessed in South Sudan lack the moral integrity that is a requisite for leadership.

I urge the AU Summit, which is due to take place in early August 2015, to do the right thing - make the report of the Commission of Inquiry report public and implement its recommendations. Ignoring the need for justice will not solve the conflict in South Sudan. We need to end the cycle of impunity that is fuelling the conflict. If not, we shall be failing the South Sudanese people, and failing once again in our responsibility to protect our populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Adama Dieng is the Under-Secretary-General/United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide

August 10, 2015 (RUMBEK) - Lakes state's military caretaker governor, Major General Matur Chut Dhuol, has warned the newly appointed commissioner of Rumbek North county to work in accordance with the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) party interest in the local area, or risk being dismissed any time.

Lakes state governor Matur Chut Dhuol speaking at the burial of late Isaiah Kulang Mabor, January 7, 2014 (ST)

The governor who last week appointed Madong Muorwel Nyot faced criticism from the SPLM secretariat in the state for appointing as commissioner a person from an opposition political party, the United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF), a party founded by former vice president, Riek Machar, in 1997, when he signed Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA) with the Sudanese government.

Governor Dhuol in his comment during the swearing ceremony of the new commissioner said he regretted having already appointed the opposition party figure, but said it would be fine with him if the new commissioner followed the objectives of the SPLM party.

He urged the new commissioner to ensure that activities of the other political parties in the county were frustrated and blocked.

“Comrade, you have to make sure that all my political opponents are kept away from accessing Rumbek North County. Anyone who resists you, please deal with him correctly and bring him to law,” caretaker governor Dhuol told his new official.

“You have to remember that you are placed under observation and any time I may dismiss you if you fail to serve that interest of my party,” he warned.

SPLM secretariat officials in the state distanced themselves from state caretaker governor's office following the last Friday appointment of Nyot as commissioner, causing internal division in the party office.

But on Saturday during the swearing in ceremony the caretaker governor instead told the new commissioner to work hard to restore peace and harmony in Rumbek North county by all means, directing him to relocate the ethnic Dinka clan of Pakam from Rumbek town, the state capital.

“First you are going to do SPLM mission. You have to restore law and order in Rumbek North county. Immediately those [members of] Pakam community residing in Rumbek town must be returned back to their residents in Maper,”said the governor.

He directed the commissioner to apprehend anyone opposing him and to bring him to face justice.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (JUBA) - The overall commander of the armed forces allied to the former vice president Riek Machar in Bahr el Ghazal region, has downplayed possibility of disintegration of the movement, asserting that clashes of ideas and viewpoints are always part of normal discussions.

SPLA in Opposition generals Gatwech Dual (R), Dau Aturjong (C) and Gabriel Tanginye pictured in Pagak on 8 December 2014 (ST)

General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, deputy chief of general staff for training of the armed opposition forces in reaction to recent claims of division in the rebel camp, argued that diverse views on public matters enhances engagement on critical and fundamental matters.

“There is a saying that two minds are better than one. This means that if you are two or more, you will have to discuss something with different approach, even when the objective is the same. The approach may be different, just like when you are going to a given place which is known to the two or more people. Some will take the short cuts and others may take long. Some will use airplanes, others may use vehicles and some will have to walk but still the destination is the same,” said General Aturjong.

General Aturjong, based in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, but who has not yet posed a significant military impact on the war in his home region, added that the objective of the movement was to transform the country so that it became feasible for anyone to participate in the nation building regardless of the means used to achieve the objective.

He accused president Salva Kiir's government of not availing participation of the country's citizens in the decision making process, further claiming that the government had been since squandering the wealth of the nation in corrupt manner.

“Every [thing] which the government of Salva Kiir and his friends do is cloudy. No one knows what that government does with the advance sale of oil and no one knows what it does with the international loans. Everything is done in the dark on behalf of the people and the country,” Aturjong said.

The top rebel commander said discussion about the means to achieving the objective would not divide the movement, even though it was the “wish of the government and some foreign mercenaries” to cause confusion in the leadership of the movement.

He said the rebel leadership was united and stronger than ever before. “We are all working together with comrade chairman. We want to bring this conflict to come to a speedy end because it is the interest of our people to be in peace but this should [be] the peace they will embrace and own,” he further stressed.

Aturjong pointed out that the peace agreement should address accountability, justice, system of governance, uphold democratic ideals and promote rule of law rather than promoting “rule of man and state of one man.”

He claimed that some elements in president Kiir's government were working to cause division in the movement in order to continue to claim to stay in power through the use of divide and rule tactics.

“Some people in the government are wishing and working hard to see that there is division of the leadership. They are hoping any debate would put the movement in disorder and possibly weaken our position and support of our people,” he said.

“I think this is a little over-optimistic,” he said.

He said the people of South Sudan knew very well that it was president Kiir and his friends in crime who started the war in rejection of democratic political processes in the country, and that they will be held accountable by the people.

Sources emanating from the government earlier alleged that they were monitoring imminent split and defection from Machar's opposition group and would welcome back to Juba those rebel commanders and officials who may decide to abandon the struggle and return to president Kiir's leadership.

However, one of the alleged senior commanders, Major General Gabriel Tanginye refuted the allegations, saying he was still loyal to the former vice president, Machar. Also another senior general, Peter Gatdet Yaka, reportedly refused to travel to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where the group was being organized by Gabriel Changson Chang, former rebel finance chairman, in order to make a declaration.

DEFECTING GENERALS DEPORTED

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that the generals who were planning defection in Nairobi under the leadership of Gabriel Changson Chang were deported by Kenyan authorities who denied them activity in the capital, Nairobi.

“Kenyan authorities asked them to leave within 72 hours from Sunday. The defectors planned to hold a press conference to declare their split, but Kenyan security agents stopped them. They were told not to do it in Nairobi,” the source close to the defecting officials revealed on Monday.

He alleged that South Sudan's army chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan, came to Nairobi over the weekend in order to push for the declaration and return to Juba of the rebel commanders, but the process did not succeed as Kenya opposed further splits in the rebel camp which it saw as anti-peace.

He said the defecting generals including Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth and others left on Monday for the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. There was no declaration made in Nairobi.

Other sources said there was also further divisions within the defecting officers on their next move, with some wanting to reconcile with the rebel leadership, Machar, in order to stop the idea of splitting.

REBEL SPLIT IMMINENT

Meanwhile, one of the officials recently sacked by rebel leader Machar, has hinted on possibilities of forming a new opposition group parrallel to the SPLM-IO faction.

Maj. Gen Peter Gatdet was dismissed from the position of deputy chief of general staff for operations in the armed opposition movement.

When asked iawas still loyal to the armed opposition leader, a seemingly angry Gatdet replied, “Did you not hear that I was removed from my position?”

However, some officials, who spoke to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the rebel's former deputy chief for operations was sacked after he criticised the proposed power-sharing deal between government and the armed opposition faction.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese minister has accused mediators from the East African regional bloc (IGAD) of “bias”, demanding that the venue for peace talks between government and the armed opposition faction be moved Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

South Sudan's rival forces resumed peace talks on 6 August, as international pressure mounts ahead of an August 17 deadline to strike a deal to end 19 months of civil war. (Photo AFP)

Martin Elias Lomoro, the cabinet affairs minister claimed he was together with his delegates blocked by the mediators from participating in the ongoing peace talks.

“The IGAD mediators are bias and they are incapable of bringing peace to South Sudan,” the minister, who also heads the opposition United Democratic Forum (UDF), told Sudan Tribune Monday.

Lomoro said his delegation was asked to leave Ethiopia upon arrival in to the country.

“The IGAD mediation team should be reconstituted so that Seyoum Mesfin is removed. Somebody like Mohamed Ahmed who hails from Sudan, a country that colonised South Sudan does not qualify to be a mediator,” stressed the visibly-angry minister.

Lomoro's UDF party was one of the political groups allied to the government of President Salva Kiir that was allowed to travel to Addis Ababa last week. However, seven members of the alliance of political parties headed by Lam Akol were halted from leaving Juba.

Negotiations between South Sudan government and the armed opposition faction led by ex-vice president Riek Machar resumed last week with a final agreement expected to be reached on 17 August.

Lomoro blames the mediators for the delays in inking a final peace deal.

“So we feel that these people should be replaced and the talks relocated to Rwanda, Tanzania or South Africa,” he observed.

The expanded team of mediators that now includes the United States, Norway, United Kingdom, China, the United Nations and five African nations resumed Monday ahead of the 17 August deadline.

According to the UN, the humanitarian consequences of South Sudan's conflict are grave. At least 4.6 million people are reportedly food insecure, while nearly two million people are displaced inside the county and 600,000 have fled to neighbouring nations.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia's prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn is in Uganda to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development summit on South Sudan.

The new chair of the African Union, Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (World Economic Forum www.weforum.org/Photo Matthew Jordaan matthew.jordaan@inl.co.za)

The summit comes one week before the 17 August deadline set by mediators for South Sudan warring factions to ink a final peace agreement.

Peace talks between South Sudan government and the armed opposition faction aimed at ending its ongoing civil war resumed in Addis Ababa last week under the IGAD-Plus peace initiative.

The IGAD-Plus mediation involves the United Nations, African Union, the Trioka trio of the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway, the European Union (EU), China as well as five African countries.

Analysts say the young nation could be slapped with more sanctions and an arms embargo should the conflicting parties failed to accept a regional peace and power-sharing deal by 17 August, 2015.

The Ethiopian prime minister will meet the Ugandan, Sudanese and Kenyan heads of states to discuss the current situation in South Sudan and developments on the ongoing peace negotiations.

Regional leaders, officials say, will consult on ways how to push the two warring factions reach a final peace agreement to arrest 20-months long running conflict and form a transitional government.

The summit will also discuss a range of regional issues including on the political crisis in Burundi and security situation in Somalia particularly the fight against the Islamic terrorist group, Al Shabaab.

Despite mounting regional and international pressures, the two South Sudanese rivals are yet to reach a comprehensive peace deal.

The conflict, which erupted on December 2013 has killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million people in South Sudan.

Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Ethiopia said the number of South Sudanese refugees crossing borders is on the rise.

The agency said fighting in South Sudan has continued to drive more refugees, mostly women and children into neighbouring Ethiopia.

According to the UNHCR, on average, 211 South Sudanese stream across the border into Ethiopia at a daily. Most of them, it said, are entering through the Pagak, Akobo, Burbiey and Raad entry points of Gambella state that borders the world's youngest nation.

Nearly 285,000 South Sudanese have reportedly entered Ethiopia since conflict erupted in the South Sudanese capital, Juba in 2013. These numbers stated do not reportedly include the nearly 65,000 South Sudanese who were in Ethiopia before conflict broke out.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's former vice president, Riek Machar, leader of the armed opposition faction of the governing Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), has relieved and appointed more officials of the movement in a series of orders.

South Sudan's rebel leader, Riek Machar, addresses a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 12 May 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

The opposition leader in an order he issued, dated 6 August, relieved Oyet Nathaniel Pierino from his position as chairman of national committee for political mobilization and orientation, and reappointed him as governor of the newly created Imatong state in Eastern Equatoria, per the rebels proposed 21 federal states in South Sudan.

“Pursuant to April 2014 Nasir Consultation Conference resolutions, I, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, hereby appoint Cde Oyet Nathaniel Pierino as Governor of Imatong State,” reads the order extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Machar also relieved Major General Mabor Marier Makoi as governor of Rumbek state and appointed Major General Khamis Abdel Latif Chawaul, replacing Makoi as new governor of Rumbek state. Chawaul was previously in charge of rebel forces in the state.

The opposition leader appointed Major General Wesley Welebe Samson as governor of Mid-West Equatoria state. Samson has been leading an anti-government force in the government's controlled Western Equatoria state.

He also appointed Matata Frank as governor of Yei River state, which is curved from Central Equatoria state in accordance with the proposed new states based on elevation of the old colonial districts in South Sudan.

The rebel leader further relieved Timothy Tot Chol from his position as chairman of national committee for Federal System Development. No replacement was yet named.

The changes also come as the two principal rival leaders, president Salva Kiir and Machar are expected to sign a final peace agreement on 17 August.

The East African regional bloc, IGAD, which mediates between the warring parties has given chance for further negotiations before the deadline.

IGAD-Plus said it would incorporate into its compromise peace proposal document any issue that may be agreed between the two parties in the course of the 10 days of negotiations, but would impose its document to be signed on 17 August in case of no agreement between the parties.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese rival forces have traded accusations in which each side attempted to hold the other responsible for launching a fresh attack on positions held by the other in violation of the non-operational ceasefire deal. The attacks came despite resumption of the peace talks in the neigbouring Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

An SPLA soldier is pictured behind a South Sudan flag as he sits on the back of a pick-up truck in Bentiu, Unity state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

Humanitarian workers and local state officials in Parieng county, Unity state, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that heavy fighting erupted on Saturday between government forces and armed opposition fighters.

The clashes came three days after the resumption of the 4th round of peace talks under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its international mediation partners.

It was not immediately clear which of the warring parties initiated the attack on the other. Military officers from both sides have provided statements depicting the other to have carried out the attack.

Spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Philip Aguer, in a statement on Sunday claimed that forces loyal to the former government-allied militia commander, turned rebel, Johnson Olony and the fighters allied to the former vice president Riek Machar launched “a coordinated and joint attack” on the positions held by the government forces in the area.

The military officer, however, downplayed the strength of the opposition fighters, asserting that the clash lasted only for a few hours before "the attackers were repulsed.”

“The fighting continued from morning up to mid-day,” said Aguer. “By afternoon, the attackers were repulsed and the SPLA is controlling the area.”

Several of the leading opposition figures also claimed during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Monday that government troops "launched coordinated attacks" on the positions held by their fighters in Unity state after their forces reportedly came “under sustained heavy shelling" for two days on Thursday and Friday.

“You know, it is always the habit of the government to attack the positions held by our forces when we are in negotiations with them. They instigated these attacks with intention to bolster their negotiating positions at the talks,” Abdullah Kuot, spokesman of the armed opposition fighters under the overall command of General Dau Aturjong in Bahr el Ghazal region told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

“Everybody knows this tactic and it is not a secret that the government is entirely responsible for these unnecessary attacks motivated by its desires and attempts to recapture oil fields under our control, but they will not succeed," he said.

Kuot further claimed that they also received reports from the headquarters of the opposition leader that the government troops attacked opposition-held areas in Leer and Mayendit counties in the oil-rich Unity state during which many lives were reportedly lost on both sides of the conflict.

The two warring parties, president Salva Kiir's government and the opposition under Machar's leadership, are given till 17 August to sign a final peace agreement to end the 20-month long civil war or risk impositions of sanctions on any party that will refuse to sign the peace deal.

(ST)

August 10, 2015 (RUMBEK) - A decision by the education ministry in South Sudan's Lakes state to dismiss two teachers has drawn lots of criticisms from civil servants.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

Isaac Magual John and Sebit Mapuor were unfairly dismissed from the education ministry in Lakes state over the weekend.

For instance, in a 31 July letter, the education ministry accuses Magual of loss of civil and political rights, unjustified absence and unsatisfactory performance, which it says justified his recent sacking.

“Therefore, the ministry of education in consultation with the ministry of labour, public service and human resource development and the government of the state has decided to terminate your contract/service with the ministry of education with effect from 1/7/2015,” partly reads the termination letter Sudan Tribune obtained.

Another controversial decision was reportedly taken on July 29, 2015, which saw Mapuor eventually dismissed from the education ministry.

The decision allegedly came at the same time Magual was demoted from a grade 7 to grade 10 teacher effective 1 July, 2015.

Lakes state education ministry officials further claimed in the letter that Magual declined to take up a new assignment given to him in Rumbek East county, allegations he denies.

Magual on the other hand says his dismissal was simply a cover up to destroy several evidences of corruption allegedly committed by senior education officials in the state.

(ST)

Why is the Suez Canal a big deal? BBC News explains its historical significance, in 60 seconds.

Key facts, figures and dates

Provides an overview, basic information and key events for this African country

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Hissène Habré Accused of Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, Torture

(Dakar, July 17, 2015) – The trial of Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré is a victory for the victims of his government. The trial began in Senegal on July 20, 2015, almost 25 years after he was overthrown.  

Share The trial of Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré is a victory for the victims of his government. The trial will begin on July 20, 2015, almost 25 years after he was overthrown.   “The opening of Hissène Habré’s trial, 25 years after he fled Chad, is a tribute to the survivors of his brutal rule who never gave up fighting for justice,” said Reed Brody, counsel at Human Rights Watch who has worked with the victims since 1999. “This case warns despots everywhere that if they engage in atrocities they will never be out of the reach of their victims.”

Habré is charged with crimes against humanity, torture, and war crimes. The trial will be the first in the world in which the courts of one country prosecute the former ruler of another for alleged human rights crimes.

  Habré will stand trial before the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegal court system. The chambers were inaugurated by Senegal and the African Union in February 2013 to prosecute the “person or persons” most responsible for international crimes committed in Chad between 1982 and 1990, the period when Habré ruled Chad. Judge Gberdao Gustave Kam of Burkina Faso, president of the Trial Chamber, will hear the case along with two senior Senegalese judges.

The trial is expected to last three months, with about 100 witnesses and victims expected to testify.

Habré, through his lawyers, has said that he does not want to appear in court. Under Senegalese law, however, the court president can require his appearance. 

“I have been waiting for this day since I walked out of prison almost 25 years ago, “ said Souleymane Guengueng, who nearly died of mistreatment and disease in Habré’s prisons, and later founded the Association of Victims of Crimes of the Regime of Hissène Habré (AVCRHH). “I want to look Hissène Habré in the face and ask him why I was kept rotting in jail for three years, why my friends were tortured and killed.”

Habré is accused of thousands of political killings and systematic torture. After he was deposed by the current president, Idriss Déby Itno, in 1990, Habré fled to Senegal. Habré was first arrested in Senegal in February 2000, but Senegal refused to prosecute him then or to extradite him to Belgium in 2005. It was only in 2012, when Macky Sall became president of Senegal and the International Court of Justice, acting on a suit by Belgium, ordered Senegal to prosecute or extradite Habré that progress was made toward the trial with the creation of the Extraordinary African Chambers. The chambers indicted Habré in July 2013 and placed him in pretrial custody. After a 19-month investigation, judges of the chambers found that there was sufficient evidence for Habré to face trial.

“This case is a milestone in the fight to hold the perpetrators of atrocities accountable for their crimes, in Africa and in the world,” Brody said. "It's taken many years, and many twists and turns, but in the end a group of tenacious survivors showed that even a dictator can be brought to justice." 

On March 25, a court in Chad convicted 20 top security agents of Habré’s government on torture and murder charges. 

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• International Justice
• Torture

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Hissène Habré est poursuivi pour crimes contre l'humanité, crimes de guerre et torture

(Dakar, le 17 juillet 2015) – Le procès de l'ancien dictateur du Tchad Hissène Habré est une victoire pour les victimes de son régime, a déclaré Human Rights Watch aujourd'hui. Le procès débutera le 20 juillet 2015, près de 25 ans après le renversement de Hissène Habré.

« L'ouverture du procès de Hissène Habré, 25 ans après sa fuite du Tchad, est un hommage aux survivants de son régime brutal qui n'ont jamais abandonné la lutte pour la justice », a déclaré Reed Brody, conseiller juridique à Human Rights Watch, qui travaille avec les survivants depuis 1999. « Cette affaire démontre aux despotes, où qu’ils se trouvent, qu’ils ne seront jamais hors de portée de leurs victimes. »

Habré est poursuivi pour crimes contre l'humanité, crimes de guerre et torture. Ce procès sera le premier au monde où les juridictions d’un État vont juger l’ancien dirigeant d’un autre État pour des supposées violations des droits humains. 

Expand Share L’ouverture à Dakar du procès de l'ex-dictateur tchadien Hissène Habré, le 20 juillet 2015, représente une victoire «historique» pour les victims, selon HRW.

Habré sera jugé par les Chambres africaines extraordinaires au sein des juridictions sénégalaises pour crimes contre l’humanité, torture et crimes de guerre. Ces Chambres ont été inaugurées par le Sénégal et l’Union africaine en février 2013 afin de poursuivre « le ou les principaux responsables » des crimes internationaux commis au Tchad entre 1982 et 1990, quand Hissène Habré était au pouvoir. Le président de la Chambre d’Assises, Gberdao Gustave Kam du Burkina Faso, siégera aux cotés de deux juges sénégalais expérimentés.

Le procès devrait durer trois mois, au cours desquels environ 100 témoins et victimes sont attendus à la barre.

Hissène Habré, par la voix de ses avocats, a fait savoir qu'il ne voulait pas assister aux audiences. Cependant, en vertu de la procédure sénégalaise, le Président de la Cour peut l'obliger à comparaître.

« J'attends ce jour depuis ma sortie de prison, il y a près de 25 ans », a déclaré Souleymane Guengueng, qui a failli succomber aux maladies et aux mauvais traitements endurés pendant près de trois ans dans les prisons de Hissène Habré. Il a ensuite fondé l’Association des Victimes des Crimes du Régime de Hissène Habré (AVCRHH). « Je veux pouvoir regarder Hissène Habré dans les yeux et lui demander pourquoi j’ai pourri trois années en prison, pourquoi mes amis ont été torturés et tués ».

Hissène Habré est accusé de milliers d’assassinats politiques et de l’usage systématique de la torture. Après avoir été renversé par l’actuel président Idriss Déby Itno, Habré a fui au Sénégal. Habré fut arrêté une première fois au Sénégal en février 2000, mais le Sénégal refusa alors de le poursuivre, puis de l’extrader en Belgique en 2005. Peu de progrès a été réalisé dans l’affaire jusqu’en 2012 avec la victoire de Macky Sall lors de l’élection présidentielle, et la décision de la Cour internationale de Justice ordonnant au Sénégal de poursuivre ou extrader Habré en justice, ce qui a conduit à la création des Chambres africaines extraordinaires. Les Chambres ont inculpé Habré en juillet 2013 et l’ont placé en détention provisoire. Après une instruction de 19 mois, les juges ont conclu qu’il y avait suffisamment de preuves pour que Habré soit jugé.

« Cette affaire est un tournant dans la lutte pour que les auteurs d’atrocités rendent compte de leurs crimes, en Afrique et dans le monde » a déclaré Reed Brody. « Cela a pris beaucoup d’années et de péripéties, mais au final un groupe de survivants tenaces a montré que même un dictateur peut être traduit en justice. »

Le 25 mars, une cour criminelle au Tchad a condamné 20 agents de sécurité du régime de Hissène Habré pour torture et assassinat.

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Euronews 14.07.15 :

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• Torture

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