On May 30, in an African court, history was made. In an unprecedented move, a former president was convicted of human rights abuses by a foreign court. In another historic ruling, the accused was also sentenced on counts of sexual abuse and the rape of a prisoner.
Chad's former dictator, HisseÌ?ne Habre?, who ruled from 1982 to 1990, received a life sentence for crimes against humanity. His conviction comes at a crucial time for international justice in Africa, with several governments threatening to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Could Habré's trial create a groundswell within civil society, leading governments to think twice about withdrawing?
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