The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has welcomed the judgement of the African Extraordinary Chambers (AEC), following the trial of the former President of Chad, Hissène Habré, in Dakar, Senegal. The judgement was delivered on Monday, 30 May 2016.

The African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson indicated that the judgment is a vivid demonstration that the AU does not condone impunity and human rights violations. Dr. Dlamini Zuma noted that the judgement comes at a time when the AU is actively fighting impunity and promoting accountability for egregious wrongs. She added that the judgement by the AEC, being an African Union mechanism, is significant in that it reinforces the AU’s principle of African solutions to African problems. 

The Hissène Habré trial began on 20 July 2015, and was presided over by the AEC. It is the first time in the history of African jurisdiction that a former Head of State is being tried by an African Court. 

It is worth recalling that the AEC is a special mechanism set up by the AU and the Government of the Republic of Senegal to try those most responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Chad during the reign of President Habré from 1982 to 1990.

The decision was made at the Summit of AU Heads of State and Government, in Khartoum, Sudan, in January 2006. The Assembly had decided to establish a Committee of Eminent African Jurists who deliberated on the case and recommended that the AEC try the case with the help of the Government of Senegal.

The AU Commission once again, takes the opportunity to extend its sincere appreciation to President Macky Sall, the Government and people of the Republic of Senegal for accepting to host the trial, on behalf of Africa. The AU Commission Chairperson also extends appreciation to all the stakeholders for providing the needed support to facilitate the implementation of a Decision of the AU Heads of State and Government.