Note sur le premier arrêt de la Cour africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples

The circumstances surrounding the first judgment, in five years of existence, pronounced by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania, are examined. The historic judgment was rendered on 15 December 2009 in the case of Yogogombaye vs. Republic of Senegal. The court unanimously dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction. The applicant, Michelot Yogogombaye, a Chadian living in Switzerland, had on 18 August 2008 initiated proceedings against Senegal, seeking an order to prevent Senegalese authorities from prosecuting former President Hissein Habré. Habré, who ruled Chad for eight years, sought asylum in Senegal, after he was deposed in December 1990. He is allegedly responsible for ordering the torture and deaths of up to 40,000 Chadians during his eight years in office.