Hissène

Hissène is a male given name used in Chad and parts of Central Africa. The name is most widely recognized through Hissène Habré (1942–2021), a Chadian military officer who served as the president of Chad from 1982 to 1990.

Habré’s rule was marked by political repression and widespread human rights abuses against opponents and civilians. After being deposed, he was eventually captured and transferred to Senegal for trial. In 2015–2016, he was tried by the Extraordinary African Chambers in Dakar and convicted of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture, receiving a life sentence. He died in 2021 while still in prison.

Beyond Habré, references to the given name Hissène are limited in international sources. The name remains most closely associated with Chad and related Francophone communities in the region.