Supreme Court upholds Succès Masra’s conviction

Chad’s leading opposition figure, Succès Masra, will remain behind bars after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal on May 21. His legal team confirmed the ruling following the hearing. “Despite presenting robust legal arguments before the court, the appeal was dismissed,” stated lawyer Me Francis Kadjilembaye. Masra was arrested in May 2025 and sentenced last August to 20 years in prison on charges of “spreading hateful and xenophobic messages” and “complicity in murder.”

Human rights groups condemn politically motivated trial

Human Rights Watch has labeled the trial of Succès Masra as a “politically driven process.” The organization also criticized his continued detention, calling it a clear sign of the government’s “intolerance toward dissent.” On Thursday, heavy security surrounded the Supreme Court building in N’Djamena, with several journalists reportedly denied access to the hearing.

Political climate remains volatile in Chad

This decision comes as Chad’s political environment remains highly unstable. Earlier this month, eight opposition leaders were sentenced to eight years in prison, among them charges of insurrection. Authorities also dissolved the country’s main opposition coalition days before these rulings. Opposition parties frequently report intimidation tactics and bans on public protests. In late April, a member of Les Transformateurs—Masra’s party—was fatally shot by police during a rally demanding his release.

From opposition to Prime Minister and back to prison

An economist trained in France and Cameroon, Succès Masra rose as a prominent critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno before being appointed Prime Minister in 2024. He later ran against the president in the presidential election that same year. Official results showed Mahamat Déby securing 61.3% of the vote compared to Masra’s 18.5%, though Masra disputed the outcome and claimed victory.