Succès Masra, the former Prime Minister and head of Les Transformateurs party, was arrested for allegedly inciting hatred following intercommunal violence in the southern regions of Chad. He received a 20-year prison sentence in August 2025.

For the leadership and members of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a sorrowful anniversary: the day their esteemed leader, Succès Masra, was apprehended from his home in the early morning hours a year ago. The party, however, strives to project an image of resilience despite their leader’s prolonged detention.

Dr. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, the Secretary-General of Les Transformateurs, articulated this sentiment:

“President Succès Masra, though imprisoned, remains present in our hearts and minds. The party, in fact, is thriving and steadfastly focused on its objectives, refusing to be sidetracked. Dr. Succès Masra has committed no act warranting his year-long imprisonment. Not a shred of evidence has been presented to substantiate the accusations against him. We are convinced this is an administrative and judicial error. The only individual who possesses the authority to rectify this mistake is Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. We earnestly hope he will fulfill his responsibilities.”

Widespread detention of opposition figures

Just last week, eight other prominent opposition party leaders, all members of the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP), were handed eight-year prison sentences. Their charges included “criminal association, insurrectional movements, rebellion, and possession of war weapons,” stemming from their plans for a peaceful protest march. Sosthène Mbernodji, coordinator of the Mouvement Citoyen pour la Préservation des Libertés (MCPL), expressed deep regret over these arrests, lamenting that political opposition in Chad has effectively ceased to exist.

“Since their leader was jailed a year ago, Les Transformateurs’ operational capacity has been severely curtailed. Furthermore, the GCAP was the last remaining coalition offering an alternative perspective. Now, the government has weaponized the justice system to disband this group and silence its eight leading members. I believe we are no longer operating within a democracy; instead, a monarchy is taking root and solidifying its hold, which is truly regrettable for Chad. It is imperative to de-escalate the social and political tension to move forward. At this juncture, we face a regression of nearly 40 to 50 years, with the country effectively reverting to a single-party system reminiscent of the post-independence era.”

In response to this wave of arrests and convictions, a collective of approximately twenty opposition parties issued a joint communiqué, condemning what they describe as the suppression of dissenting voices and the blatant instrumentalization of the judiciary.