Chad: general abdoulaye miskine’s trial postponed indefinitely

The legal proceedings surrounding General Abdoulaye Miskine, also known by his birth name Martin Koumtamadji, continue to face significant delays. Despite being slated for a crucial session of the criminal chamber’s itinerant hearing on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the N’Djamena Court of Appeal, his case was unexpectedly removed from the schedule. This postponement comes as a particular disappointment, given the extensive period he has spent in custody awaiting a verdict.

Judicial records indicate the file, referenced as n°093/2022, listed Abdoulaye Miskine alongside co-accused individuals such as Adoum Rakhis, Ringo Djouma, and Abdoulaye Gros. The charges are grave, encompassing allegations of criminal conspiracy, the formation and involvement in insurrectional activities, kidnapping, unlawful confinement, severe physical abuse, rape, and extortion of property. The alleged location of these offenses is Tissi.

General Miskine’s arrest occurred in N’Djamena in November 2019, meaning he has now endured over six and a half years of incarceration at Klessoum prison without a trial. The most recent hearing, initially set for May 25, 2026, was reportedly halted. While some accounts attribute this suspension to the sudden passing of a court clerk, the absence of any subsequent communication regarding a new date has only intensified concerns surrounding this already contentious matter.

According to various local reports, the case has been taken off the judicial calendar « until further notice ». Individuals familiar with the situation point to alleged political interference as the primary reason for the ongoing obstruction of the trial for the former head of the Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain (FDPC). This alleged pressure persists despite the prolonged detention and repeated pleas from his legal representatives and family.

The Central African Republic had previously sought his extradition, a request that Chad chose not to fulfill. Furthermore, General Miskine’s involvement in the 2019 Khartoum Peace Accord introduces a significant political and regional dimension to this already intricate legal saga.

Grave concerns also surround General Miskine’s health. For several years, his family and supporters have highlighted his struggles with kidney insufficiency, arterial hypertension, vision impairment, and significant weight loss. He has undergone multiple hospitalizations, notably in 2025, a year during which he also initiated a hunger strike following the confiscation of his prescribed medications.

For his advocates, this situation epitomizes an unjustifiably prolonged detention without due process. While judicial authorities officially maintain that the case remains active within the legal system, the abrupt cancellation of the May 25, 2026, hearing has reignited sharp criticism regarding the persistent deadlock. This complex affair sits at the confluence of legal, security, and political challenges impacting both Chad and the Central African Republic. As of now, no new trial date has been announced, leaving the fate of Abdoulaye Miskine in limbo, devoid of any clear path towards judgment, release, or extradition.