To Catch a Dictator

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What does it take to make a dictator answer for his crimes? Hissene Habre, the former despot of Chad, terrorized, tortured, and killed on a horrific scale during his eight years in power, all while receiving full American and Western support. After his overthrow, victims and supporters were determined to hold him accountable for his atrocities. Their quest for justice was long, tense, and fraught with challenges, but they remained resolute. This dramatic insider's account details the hunt for Habre and his significant trial. Human rights lawyer Reed Brody narrates how he and an international team of investigators, legal experts, and victims worked across three continents to gather evidence and witnesses, petition courts and skeptical governments, and mobilize public opinion. They faced numerous obstacles and constant threats, including a bomb attack that gravely injured one of Brody's Chadian colleagues, while another sought asylum in the U.S. Habre fought back fiercely, leveraging secret bank accounts and political connections to maintain his luxurious exile. Ultimately, Brody and his allies triumphed, as Habre became the first former head of state convicted of crimes against humanity in another country's courts. This fast-paced, suspenseful narrative illustrates that impunity for the powerful is not inevitable and that even the worst tyrants can be brought to justice. The book also includes a foreword by Jacqueline Moude