Ex-Chad Dictator Indicted in Belgium

Hissène Habré to Face Extradition to Belgium for Human Rights Atrocities

(Brussels, September 29, 2005)—A Belgian judge has issued an international arrest warrant charging Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré with atrocities during his 1982-90 rule. Habré, known as an “African Pinochet,” lives in exile in Senegal, where he was indicted five years ago before courts ruled that he could not be tried there. Belgium is now formally seeking Habré’s extradition from Senegal to stand trial.

The warrant marks a turning point in the long and labyrinthian effort to bring Habré to justice. The governments of Senegal and Chad have both indicated support for Habré’s extradition.

Human rights groups hailed the warrant, issued by Investigating Judge Daniel Fransen of the Brussels district court on September 19 and made public today, as a groundbreaking move reminiscent of Spain’s arrest warrant for Gen. Augusto Pinochet of Chile. <snip>

The indictment was issued under Belgium’s “universal jurisdiction” law which allowed prosecution of the worst atrocities no matter where they were committed. In August 2003, under pressure from the United States, Belgium repealed that law, but the Habré case was allowed to continue because the investigation was already underway and three plaintiffs are Belgian citizens. <snip>

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/29/chad11802.htm