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| Former Chad dictator Hissène Habré, left, seen as he leaves the court in Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 25, 2005. |
Authorities in Senegal have detained former Chadian dictator Hissene
Habre ahead of his trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
Habre, who ruled Chad from 1982 until a 1990 military coup, is accused of overseeing more than 40,000 political killings, systematic torture and human rights violations.
Lawyer El Hadji Diouf says Habre was taken to an unknown location from his home in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Sunday. Habre has been living freely in Senegal for 22 years.
Human Rights Watch lawyer Reed Brody says Habre's detention marked a milestone in the long campaign to bring him justice, adding that "Habre's victims can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Under Senegalese law, authorities can hold him for 48 hours, renewable once, before charges must be filed.
The former dictator was first indicted in Senegal for crimes against humanity in 2000, but little progress was made under the government of former president Abdoulaye Wade.
Last December, Senegal's National Assembly ratified an agreement with the African Union to create a special tribunal, known as the Extraordinary Chambers. The court became operational in February and is now in the pre-trial investigation phase.
HRW says the pre-trial investigations are expected to last 15 months and will likely be followed by a seven-month trial in late 2014 or 2015 and a five-month appeals process.
Habre, who ruled Chad from 1982 until a 1990 military coup, is accused of overseeing more than 40,000 political killings, systematic torture and human rights violations.
Lawyer El Hadji Diouf says Habre was taken to an unknown location from his home in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Sunday. Habre has been living freely in Senegal for 22 years.
Human Rights Watch lawyer Reed Brody says Habre's detention marked a milestone in the long campaign to bring him justice, adding that "Habre's victims can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Under Senegalese law, authorities can hold him for 48 hours, renewable once, before charges must be filed.
The former dictator was first indicted in Senegal for crimes against humanity in 2000, but little progress was made under the government of former president Abdoulaye Wade.
Last December, Senegal's National Assembly ratified an agreement with the African Union to create a special tribunal, known as the Extraordinary Chambers. The court became operational in February and is now in the pre-trial investigation phase.
HRW says the pre-trial investigations are expected to last 15 months and will likely be followed by a seven-month trial in late 2014 or 2015 and a five-month appeals process.
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