The Chadian transitional government has declared internationally renowned American lawyer, Reed Brody, persona non grata.
Brody, invited by the United States Embassy in Chad and the CEFOD Business School, was scheduled to lead a panel discussion alongside his Chadian colleague, Me Jacqueline Moudeina, on Wednesday.
The panel, titled “The Hissène Habré Case: The Victims’ Fight”, was intended to reflect on the victims’ struggle for justice in the landmark trial of former Chadian President Hissène Habré. Brody was also set to present the French edition of his book, “The Hunt for Hissène Habré: Judging a Dictator in a World of Impunity.”
However, the event was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of police and intelligence officers, who arrested both Reed Brody and Jacqueline Moudeina. They were taken to the Coordination of the Judicial Police, and soon after, Brody was expelled from Chad by government order.
Reed Brody and Me Jacqueline Moudeina are known for their tireless fight for justice in the Hissène Habré trial. Reed Brody, a former legal advisor and spokesperson for Human Rights Watch, has earned the nickname “the dictator hunter” for his global efforts to hold authoritarian leaders accountable.
He played a pivotal role in representing Hissène Habré’s victims at the Extraordinary African Chambers, where the former president was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 for crimes against humanity.
