In N’Djamena, Chad, the Supreme Court has definitively dismissed the appeal lodged by lawyers representing former Prime Minister Succès Masra. This ruling solidifies his 20-year prison sentence in connection with the tragic Mandakao violence.

The former Chadian Prime Minister, also the leader of Les Transformateurs party, Succès Masra, now faces a final confirmation of his 20-year incarceration. On Thursday, May 21, the N’Djamena Supreme Court rejected the final appeal filed by his legal team, effectively concluding all domestic judicial avenues.

Last August, the Criminal Court had convicted the former head of government on charges including «diffusion of racist and xenophobic messages», «criminal conspiracy», and «complicity in murder». Chadian authorities specifically cited a message attributed to him in 2023, which they deemed instrumental in fueling the deadly inter-communal clashes that erupted in Mandakao in May 2025.

During the hearing, a substantial security cordon, comprising police and military personnel, was established around the Supreme Court headquarters. This deployment restricted access to the premises, even though the session was officially public.

With this ruling, Succès Masra has exhausted all national legal remedies available to him. His remaining legal recourse may now lie with sub-regional or international judicial bodies. Supporters of the opposition figure have vehemently condemned the proceedings, characterizing them as a politically motivated trial. Claudia Hoinathy, a prominent member of Les Transformateurs party, expressed hope, stating, «We therefore hope that a political solution will be found.»