From Prime Minister to Political Prisoner

The former Prime Minister and founder of Les Transformateurs, Succès Masra, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last August following accusations tied to intercommunal violence in southern Chad. His detention began in May 2025 when security forces raided his home at dawn, marking the start of a year-long ordeal for both him and his party.

For his supporters, the anniversary of his arrest is a stark reminder of what they describe as a politically motivated incarceration. Despite the harsh sentence, party officials insist Masra’s absence has not weakened their resolve.

“President Succès Masra remains a guiding presence for us, even behind bars. The party is not only standing strong but continues to pursue its goals with unwavering focus. There is not a shred of evidence to justify his imprisonment. We firmly believe this is an administrative and judicial miscarriage of justice. The only person who can correct this is Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and we urge him to take responsibility.”

— Dr. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, Secretary-General of Les Transformateurs

Crackdown on Dissent Gathers Pace

The past week saw another blow to Chad’s already fragile opposition landscape. Eight leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), including prominent figures like Sosthène Mbernodji of the Mouvement Citoyen pour la Préservation des Libertés (MCPL), were handed 8-year prison sentences. Their alleged crime? Organizing a peaceful protest deemed “insurrectional” by authorities.

Mbernodji condemned the move as part of a broader strategy to silence dissent:

“Since Succès Masra’s imprisonment, Les Transformateurs have operated under severe restrictions. The GCAP was the last coalition giving voice to alternative views—until the regime dismantled it and jailed its leaders. Chad is no longer a democracy; it’s drifting toward entrenched monarchy. The country has regressed by decades, reverting to a one-party system reminiscent of post-independence eras. Social and political tensions must be urgently de-escalated.”

A joint statement from nearly two dozen opposition parties labeled the convictions a deliberate attempt to “muzzle dissent” and weaponize the judiciary against critics. With Masra’s party crippled and GCAP decimated, observers warn of a chilling effect on political pluralism.