Belgium takes Senegal to ICJ

  1. Posted on Wednesday 25 February 2009 - 10:05
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Belgium has chosen to take Senegal to the International Court of Justice for failing to prosecute former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre despite claims that they are making frantic effort to prosecute him. It is alleged that Habre, whiles in office killed thousands of people and tortured many more.
    Abdoulaye Wade_Gouv.sn
    According to the Associated Press a document which was filled earlier last week by Belgium to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Senegal’s failure to prosecute Habre breaches International law, Senegal “violates the general obligation to punish crimes against international humanitarian law.’’

    Human Rights groups welcome Belgium decision but a Senegalese based lawyer representing Habre, El Hadj Diouf, described the moves as a new kind of judicial imperialism. “Belgium needs to give up its colonial ways; it needs to respect the African Union, which gave Senegal the right to judge Habre. And Senegal is in the process of doing just that.”

    Political pundits observed that leaders of the continent main regional group the African Union holds different views about the propose trial of Habre.

    A date has not yet been announced for the ICJ to hear the case between Belgium and Senegal.

    It could be recalled last year that a Chadian Commission of Inquiry concluded that Habre killed thousands of people. A court later found him guilty and sentenced him to death in absentia.

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