Chad Opposition Leaders Jailed for Eight Years
Eight Chadian opposition leaders arrested at the end of last month were sentenced to eight years in prison, according to their lawyer.
N'DJAMENA: Eight Chadian opposition leaders arrested at the end of last month were jailed for eight years on Friday.
These detentions come under President Mahamat Idriss Deby's ongoing crackdown on critics.
The defendants, all members of the only political movement that has consistently challenged Deby’s election legitimacy, had been detained in N’Djamena prior to a banned government protest and indignation march.
They were taken into custody pending the outcome of a judicial investigation into ‘criminal association, rebellion, and the unlawful possession of weapons of war.’ According to the defendants' lawyer, Moussa Adoum, the court's decision was based on non-existent charges.
He stated that they would be seeking an appeal to the criminal court in N’Djamena to rule without political pressure.
Since assuming power following his father’s death at the hands of rebels, President Deby has seen many of his chief rivals jailed.
In May 2025, top opposition leader Succes Masra, a former prime minister, was sentenced to 20 years for 'incitement to hatred.' This sentence came after a trial that Human Rights Watch criticized as politically motivated.
Masra's Transformers party had called for the liberation of these eight opposition leaders in early May during a rally to support their jailed leader.
The security forces killed one protester during this rally.
- Supreme Court Dissolution -
The sentences were handed down a day after the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the GCAP movement, which unites 13 political parties and civil society representatives.
GCAP had been vocal in calling for a boycott of the election that saw Deby elected president in May 2024, three years after taking interim power following his father's death.
In mid-April, the movement called on Chadians to protest against 'injustice, exclusion,' and the re-establishment of rights, liberties, and justice through social media.
Additionally, in October, GCAP criticized a ‘climate of terror’ due to intimidation and threats from authorities who had banned demonstrations and public meetings.
Early that month, Chad’s parliament passed a constitutional revision granting unlimited seven-year terms to the president by an overwhelming majority.
The opposition has denounced this change as 'authoritarian,' suggesting it could allow Deby to rule for life, surpassing his father's 30-year reign.
These detentions come under President Mahamat Idriss Deby's ongoing crackdown on critics.
The defendants, all members of the only political movement that has consistently challenged Deby’s election legitimacy, had been detained in N’Djamena prior to a banned government protest and indignation march.
They were taken into custody pending the outcome of a judicial investigation into ‘criminal association, rebellion, and the unlawful possession of weapons of war.’ According to the defendants' lawyer, Moussa Adoum, the court's decision was based on non-existent charges.
He stated that they would be seeking an appeal to the criminal court in N’Djamena to rule without political pressure.
Since assuming power following his father’s death at the hands of rebels, President Deby has seen many of his chief rivals jailed.
In May 2025, top opposition leader Succes Masra, a former prime minister, was sentenced to 20 years for 'incitement to hatred.' This sentence came after a trial that Human Rights Watch criticized as politically motivated.
Masra's Transformers party had called for the liberation of these eight opposition leaders in early May during a rally to support their jailed leader.
The security forces killed one protester during this rally.
- Supreme Court Dissolution -
The sentences were handed down a day after the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the GCAP movement, which unites 13 political parties and civil society representatives.
GCAP had been vocal in calling for a boycott of the election that saw Deby elected president in May 2024, three years after taking interim power following his father's death.
In mid-April, the movement called on Chadians to protest against 'injustice, exclusion,' and the re-establishment of rights, liberties, and justice through social media.
Additionally, in October, GCAP criticized a ‘climate of terror’ due to intimidation and threats from authorities who had banned demonstrations and public meetings.
Early that month, Chad’s parliament passed a constitutional revision granting unlimited seven-year terms to the president by an overwhelming majority.
The opposition has denounced this change as 'authoritarian,' suggesting it could allow Deby to rule for life, surpassing his father's 30-year reign.
