Truth Commission (Chad)

The Commission of Inquiry into the Crimes and Misappropriations Committed by Ex-President Habré, His Accomplices and/or Accessories (French: Commission d'Enquête du Ministère Chadien de la Justice sur les Crimes du Régime de Hissène Habré) was established on December 29, 1990, by the President of Chad, Idriss Déby. Its goal was to investigate the "illegal detentions, assassinations, disappearances, torture, mistreatment, other attacks on the physical and mental integrity of persons; plus all violations of human rights, illicit narcotics trafficking and embezzlement of state funds between 1982 and 1990", when former President Hissène Habré was in power.[1][2]

It reported on May 7, 1992, describing approximately 40,000 killings and 200,000 cases of torture committed by Habré’s DDS (Directorate of Documentation and Security), and detailing the involvement of foreign governments in the funding and training of the DDS. The commission published the names and photographs of the worst perpetrators, and its work has been widely used by victims’ families trying to seek justice. Its recommendations were however largely ignored by President Déby’s regime.[1][3][4]

  1. ^ a b Hayner, Priscilla (2011). Unspeakable Truths: Transitional Justice and the Challenge of Truth Commissions. New York: Routledge. pp. 245–246 [ISBN missing]
  2. ^ "Decree No. 014 /P.CE/CJ/90" (PDF). usip.org. December 29, 1990. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "The commission's report" (PDF). usip.org. May 7, 1992. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "Chad: The Victims of Hissène Habré Still Awaiting Justice" (PDF). hrw.org. July 2005. Retrieved February 19, 2016.