Ex Chad President Hissene Habre was found guilty of crimes against humanity for ordering the killing and torture of thousands of political opponents during his 1982-1990 rule, Euronews reports.
He was sentenced by the Special African Chamber in Senegal to life in prison. It marks the first time that the court created by the African Union has tried a former leader for human rights abuses.
The 73-year-old denied all charges and refused to acknowledge the authority of the court.
The trial was the culmination of a 25-year campaign by the victims and human rights activists to bring Habre to justice.
Investigators detailed how during Habre’s rule from 1982-1990 water boarding, binding and rape was systematic and up to 40,000 people were killed.
Human Rights Watch applauded the tenacity of the victims in continuing the fight which saw them pass through the legal process in Belgium and Senegal at the UN Committee Against Torture as well as the International Court of Justice.