Chad war criminal Hissene Habre’s lawyers appeal against his life sentence
Dakar — Lawyers for Chad’s president Hissene Habre’s began an appeal on Monday against his life sentence for war crimes and crimes against humanity after a conviction hailed as a landmark for Africa. The Extraordinary African Chambers, created by Senegal and the African Union (AU), sentenced Habre in May to life behind bars, an unprecedented ruling seen as a blow to the impunity long enjoyed by repressive rulers. Habre, 74, who ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990, refuses to recognise the court’s authority, but his court-appointed lawyers asked to appeal on his behalf. Appeal court president Wafi Ougadeye said its deliberations would continue without Habre’s presence after a defence request. Ougadeye said Habre had replied to a letter from the court, saying he did recognise its authority and so "was not able to receive any document issued by it". The hearing was expected to last several days with the verdict expected by April 30. One of Habre’s most high-profile campaigning victims, Souley...
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