A Donor’s Perspective

This chapter addresses the challenges of providing necessary, but politically sensitive, Western support to a tribunal overtly designed to be an African mechanism. Two principal elements motivated Switzerland's actions in Senegal: Switzerland's commitment to promoting international criminal justice and its longstanding engagement with Chad. It is within this context of strong and active engagement in Chad, along with the direct repercussions for the people of Chad of the trial of Hissène Habré, that it became apparent that Switzerland should actively engage with the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC). Concretely, this engagement entailed making a range of technical assistance available and facilitating relations and communications among the various stakeholders, rather than financing the EAC as a donor. This choice was made in light of the ongoing concern of ensuring that actions in Senegal could also have a positive impact for Chad. Switzerland additionally participated in the Steering Committee for the financing of the EAC as an observer.