DAKAR: Former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre, sentenced to life in May for crimes against humanity, was ordered on Friday to pay compensation to thousands of his victims of up to 30,000 euros ($33,000) each.

A special African Union court ordered financial redress for those who suffered rape, arbitrary detention and imprisonment during his abusive 1982-1990 rule, as well as for victims’ relatives.

Habre was sentenced to life in jail on May 30 by the court set up to try him a quarter century after he fled to Senegal following his 1990 ouster by Chad’s current president Idriss Deby.

The landmark conviction was seen by rights campaigners as a victory in the fights against impunity.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016