The Trial of Hissène Habré by Celeste Hicks

Although Déby has not been in power for as long as Mugabe, he is not all that far behind, having served for 25 years as head of state (compared to Mugabe’s 29, although Mugabe was effectively in charge for another seven years before that).īut somehow, Déby has succeeded in maintaining a much lower profile.

Step forward Idriss Déby Itno, president of Chad. Not only did Mugabe complicate AU business at times, but his appointment also attracted widespread criticism.Īll of which makes Mugabe’s replacement an intriguing proposition. These worries even percolated down to the organisation of events like continental maritime conferences, which European countries were reluctant to fund lest their support be seen as an endorsement of Mugabe’s role.Ĭlearly, while the role of AU chairperson is largely symbolic, the identity of its occupant can have very real consequences. Similar considerations applied to US President Barack Obama’s trip to the AU, which was billed as a visit to the AU Commission rather than the broader AU, so that Mugabe was not technically the host. Paid for by the Germans, rumour has it that Chancellor Angela Merkel didn’t want it completed on time, for fear of having to be pictured shaking hands with Mugabe. Take, for instance, the continual delays to the opening of the new Peace and Security Council building. The conflict in Mali has its roots in history, but can also be seen as a product of current economic, ecological, political, security and geopolitical developments in the region.

The Trial of Hissène Habré by Celeste Hicks