Eight prominent opposition figures from the GCAP (Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques), Chad’s leading opposition coalition, were sentenced to eight years in prison in N’Djamena following a protest that authorities had banned. Alifa Younous Mahamat, coordinator of the PSF, condemns these developments as a blatant attempt to “instrumentalize justice for political ends”.

Listen to Alifa Younous Mahamat

Dictatorship deepens as dissent is crushed

Mahamat warns that Chad is sliding further into authoritarianism, where “a single narrative is enforced through fear and repression”. The arrests occurred just days before an opposition march was banned, highlighting a pattern of silencing critical voices. “Every dissenting voice is systematically eradicated”, he declares, emphasizing the severe restrictions on political freedoms in Chad today. Opposition parties now struggle to operate, with their rights to free expression, assembly, and organization severely curtailed.

This crackdown follows the 20-year prison sentence handed to Succès Masra, a key opposition leader and former prime minister, underscoring the regime’s relentless campaign against political pluralism.

You may also read: Eight opposition leaders jailed for eight years after banned protest in Chad

Diaspora amplifies calls for international action

From exile in France and Europe, the Chadian diaspora is rallying global support for democracy in Chad. “We give voice to those silenced at home”, Mahamat explains, as he engages with international institutions and human rights organizations to pressure the regime. “We urge the international community to take a firm stand”, he stresses, emphasizing the critical role of global solidarity in countering Chad’s authoritarian drift.

Leveraging French political ties

Mahamat has also met with French lawmakers to highlight the crisis in Chad. Discussions included exchanges with representatives from La France insoumise, culminating in a meeting with party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. For the exiled opposition, international mobilization is now a vital tool to challenge the growing repression under Mahamat Idriss Déby.