Former South African president Jacob Zuma goes on trial on Friday for
alleged corruption and fraud in a large government arms deal in the
late 1990s, charges denied by the 75-year-old who was ousted by his
party in February.
alleged corruption and fraud in a large government arms deal in the
late 1990s, charges denied by the 75-year-old who was ousted by his
party in February.
The trial is a rarity on the African
continent, where political leaders – particularly heads of state – are
seldom called to account for alleged wrongdoing.
continent, where political leaders – particularly heads of state – are
seldom called to account for alleged wrongdoing.
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Below are some African leaders who have ended up in the dock:
HISSENE HABRE, CHAD
Former
Chadian dictator Hissene Habre was sentenced in 2016 by a special
international tribunal sitting in Senegal to life in prison for war
crimes and crimes against humanity during his 1982-1990 rule. A special
tribunal upheld the life sentence last year.
Chadian dictator Hissene Habre was sentenced in 2016 by a special
international tribunal sitting in Senegal to life in prison for war
crimes and crimes against humanity during his 1982-1990 rule. A special
tribunal upheld the life sentence last year.
FREDERICK CHILUBA, ZAMBIA
Frederick
Chiluba, Zambia’s first democratically elected president, was charged
with stealing nearly $500,000 of public funds after standing down in
2002. He was acquitted of all charges in 2009 and died in 2011.
Chiluba, Zambia’s first democratically elected president, was charged
with stealing nearly $500,000 of public funds after standing down in
2002. He was acquitted of all charges in 2009 and died in 2011.
LAURENT GBAGBO, IVORY COAST
Former
Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo was brought before the
International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes allegedly committed during
post-electoral violence in 2010 and 2011, when he refused to accept
defeat by rival Alassane Ouattara.
Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo was brought before the
International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes allegedly committed during
post-electoral violence in 2010 and 2011, when he refused to accept
defeat by rival Alassane Ouattara.
The trial in the Hague began in 2016 and is ongoing.
CHARLES TAYLOR, LIBERIA
Former
Liberian president Charles Taylor is serving a 50-year jail term in a
British prison for war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Liberian president Charles Taylor is serving a 50-year jail term in a
British prison for war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
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Taylor,
a warlord who campaigned for election in 1997 on the slogan “He killed
my ma, he killed my pa, but I will vote for him”, was convicted in 2012
by the U.N. Special Court for Sierra Leone.
a warlord who campaigned for election in 1997 on the slogan “He killed
my ma, he killed my pa, but I will vote for him”, was convicted in 2012
by the U.N. Special Court for Sierra Leone.
UHURU KENYATTA, KENYA
Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta was summoned to the ICC to answer questions
about his indictment on charges of orchestrating a wave of deadly
post-election violence that swept Kenya in 2007 and 2008. The ICC agreed to withdraw the charges against him in 2015. (Reuters)
President Uhuru Kenyatta was summoned to the ICC to answer questions
about his indictment on charges of orchestrating a wave of deadly
post-election violence that swept Kenya in 2007 and 2008. The ICC agreed to withdraw the charges against him in 2015. (Reuters)
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