The Trial of Hissein Habré: The International Crimes of a Former Head of State

Review\n“The Trial of Hissein Habré is a reference book in the field of international criminal law. The author of this book, an academic from Africa, provides a well-documented account on the continental contribution to this branch, in addition to that already made in the adoption and the implementation of the Rome Statute of the ICC. This book illustrates the complementary role of regionalism in addressing the global challenge of impunity. For all these reasons, I would recommend it to academics, students, and practitioners interested in this matter.”
-- Mutoy Mubiala, University of Kinshasa\nIn The Trial of Hissein Habré: The International Crimes of a Former Head of State, Emmanuel Guematcha recounts the trial of Hissein Habré, the former head of state of Chad. Accused of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture while ruling Chad between 1982 and 1990, Hissein Habré was tried in Dakar, Senegal, by the Extraordinary African Chambers. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 and the sentence was confirmed in 2017. . In a narrative style, Guematcha examines the process that led to this achievement in Africa, including the failed attempts to try Hissein Habré in the Senegalese, Chadian, and Belgian courts. Guematcha discusses the mobilization of victims and the involvement of nongovernmental and international organizations. He describes the particularities of the Extraordinary African Chambers, analyzes the establishment of Hissein Habré’s criminal responsibility, and presents the trial through the testimonies of several victims, witnesses, and experts. These testimonies shed light on what it means for individuals to be subjected to international crimes. The author also questions the impact and significance of the trial in Africa and beyond.