chadian opposition leader succès masra marks one year in prison
Succès Masra, who previously served as prime minister and leads the Les Transformateurs party, received a 20-year prison sentence in August 2025. He was convicted on charges of inciting hatred, following severe inter-communal clashes in the southern regions of Chad.
For the dedicated members and leadership of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a poignant and sorrowful anniversary. It was on this date a year ago that their influential leader, Succès Masra, was forcibly taken from his home in the early hours of the morning.
Despite their leader’s prolonged imprisonment, the party maintains a reassuring stance, expressing confidence in its continued operation. Dr. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, the Secretary-General of Les Transformateurs, elaborated on the party’s resilience.
“President Succès Masra, though imprisoned, remains a strong presence among us. The party is thriving, maintaining its focus on objectives without distraction. Dr. Succès Masra has committed no act warranting a year of imprisonment. No credible evidence has been presented to support the accusations against him. We firmly believe this is an administrative and judicial error. The power to rectify this mistake lies solely with Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. We earnestly hope he will fulfill his responsibilities.”
Numerous opposition figures in detention
Just last week, eight other leaders from various opposition parties, all affiliated with the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP), received 8-year prison sentences. Their convictions stemmed from charges including “criminal association, insurrectionary movements, rebellion, and possession of war weapons,” following their plans for a peaceful protest. Sosthène Mbernodji, coordinator of the Mouvement Citoyen pour la Préservation des Libertés (MCPL), voiced his deep regret over these arrests, asserting that genuine political opposition in Chad has been effectively dismantled.
“Les Transformateurs have seen their operational capacity significantly curtailed since their leader’s incarceration a year ago. Furthermore, the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP) was the sole remaining coalition offering an alternative perspective. Now, the authorities have leveraged the justice system to dissolve this group and silence its eight prominent members. I believe we are no longer operating within a democracy; rather, a monarchy is gradually solidifying its hold, which is deeply regrettable for Chad. It is imperative to de-escalate the social and political tension to enable progress. At this juncture, the country has regressed by almost 40 to 50 years, returning to a single-party system reminiscent of the post-independence era.”
In response to this wave of arrests and convictions, a coalition of approximately twenty opposition parties collectively issued a press statement. They condemned what they described as the suppression of dissenting voices and the blatant instrumentalization of the judiciary.
