The attack on Jacqueline Moudeina occured when a demonstration, held on 23 Febuary 2004 in front of the French Embassy to denounce alleged irregularities during the Presidential elections, was reportedly violently dispersed by the police, under the orders of Mahamat Wakaye, the Chief Police Commissioner and a close colleague of former dictator Hissen Habré.
Jacqueline Moudeina was seriously wounded by a hand grenade,requiring over a year’s medical attention in France. According to reports by several witnesses, Mahamat Wakaye had given the order to his men to target Jacqueline Moudeina specifically.She was targeted because she works as a lawyer for the victims of the Hissen Habré regime. 
