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

(Hardback)

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In The Trial of Hissein Habr: The International Crimes of a Former Head of State, Emmanuel Guematcha recounts the trial of Hissein Habr, the former Head of State of Chad. Accused of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture while he ruled Chad between 1982 and 1990, he was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 and 2017 by the African Extraordinary Chambers. Guematcha examines the process that led to this achievement in Africa, including the failed attempts to try Hissein Habr in the Senegalese, Chadian, and Belgian courts. Guematcha discusses the mobilization of victims and the involvement of non-governmental and international organizations. He describes the particularities of the Extraordinary African Chambers, discusses the establishment of Hissein Habr'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.

Reviews

"The Trial of Hissne Habre 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 like to recommend it to academics, students, and practitioners interested in this matter."

Author Bio

Emmanuel Guematcha is senior lecturer of international law at the University of French Guiana and lecturer of transitional justice at the University of Paris-Nanterre.