Chad faces growing calls to resist authoritarian drift

The political wing of the Wakit Tama movement has intensified its campaign ahead of the planned peaceful protest scheduled for May 16, 2026, openly condemning what it describes as the authoritarian excesses of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s government.

During a press briefing, the movement highlighted the vital role of Chadian journalists, praising them as “the guardians of truth and memory” despite enduring harassment, intimidation, and repression.

The spokesperson for Wakit Tama, Abdelazim Mht Abakar, emphasized that the briefing aimed to “alert both national and international opinion to the severity of the political crisis gripping Chad.”

Political repression and justice under scrutiny

Wakit Tama condemned the recent eight-year prison sentences handed down to eight political leaders from the GCAP coalition, labeling the ruling “a scandalous miscarriage of justice.” The movement accused the Chadian judiciary of becoming “a tool of political oppression,” calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Succès Masra and other detained activists.

International silence fuels domestic outrage

The movement also criticized the inaction of human rights organizations and Western partners in the face of alleged systematic violations of fundamental freedoms in Chad. “The Chadian people are not asking for favors—they demand justice, dignity, and respect for human rights,” declared the spokesperson.

Protest scheduled to challenge oppression

Reaffirming its call for nationwide mobilization on May 16, Wakit Tama vowed to “break the chains of fear and reclaim stolen freedoms.” The movement insists the protest will give voice to the people’s rejection of injustice and the erosion of democratic values.