Chadian authorities have refused to transfer the co-accused people to the Extraordinary African Chamber.

The African Union (AU) has promised to convince the Chadian government to cooperate with the Extraordinary African Chamber (EAC) by transferring the two co-accused people, Saleh Younous and Mahamat Djibrine, in the ongoing case against the former President of Chad, Hissein Habré, the Chamber reportedly said.

A communiqué posted on the website of the Extraordinary African Chamber website disclosed that on October 14, the Chadian authorities rejected a request for an EAC rogatory commission to go to Chad, “ to proceed with the questioning and charging of the two former Habré aides, Saleh Younous and Mahamat Djibrine, who are both currently detained in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena.  

They are under the EAC investigation for crimes against humanity and are under international arrest warrants issued more than a year ago. The authorities equally refused transferring the two people to Senegal where the prosecution of Hissein Habré is on course. The rogatory mission requested by the Chamber on October 3, 2014 was planned for October 18 to November 2 but could not go ahead because of the refusal by the N’Djamena authorities to cooperate.

The Chadian government had probably been waiting for the opportunity considering its stand off with the Extraordinary African Chamber. This is because  the African Union created court refused to grant the request of Chad to constitute a civil party in the Habré case.

Reliable sources in EAC reportedly say proceedings will have to continue as the case has to be over by January 2015. Judges are expected to submit to the Prosecutor, Mbacké Fall a complete file. After this, he will decide on the proceedings of the prosecution. Lawyers for the victims say the EAC must move forward and set an example by trying Hissein Habré.