Supreme Court upholds Succès Masra’s conviction

Prominent opposition leader Succès Masra will remain behind bars after Chad’s Supreme Court rejected his appeal on Thursday, May 21. His legal team confirmed the decision following the hearing. « Despite presenting strong legal arguments, the court chose to uphold the original ruling, » stated his lawyer, Me Francis Kadjilembaye. Masra, arrested in May 2025, was sentenced last August to 20 years in prison on charges of « spreading hateful and xenophobic messages » and « complicity in murder ».

Opposition groups and NGOs denounce politically motivated trial

Human Rights Watch has criticized Masra’s trial as a « politically motivated process », warning that his continued detention reflects the government’s « intolerance toward dissent ». Security around the Supreme Court in N’Djamena was heavy, with several journalists reportedly denied access to the proceedings.

Political climate in Chad remains tense

This ruling arrives at a time of escalating political unrest in Chad. Earlier this month, eight opposition leaders were sentenced to eight years in prison for charges including « insurrection ». Authorities also dissolved the country’s main opposition coalition just days before these convictions. Opposition parties frequently report intimidation, restrictions on public gatherings, and bans on protests. Last April, a member of Masra’s party, Les Transformateurs, was killed by police during a demonstration demanding his release.

From opposition figure to Prime Minister

An economist trained in France and Cameroon, Succès Masra rose to prominence as a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno before being appointed Prime Minister in 2024. He ran against the president in that year’s presidential election, which official results declared Mahamat Déby the winner with 61.3% of the vote, compared to 18.5% for Masra. Masra contested the results, claiming victory.