Chadian supreme court upholds succés masra’s conviction, transformateurs decry political verdict

In a significant legal development, Chad’s Supreme Court on Thursday, May 21, dismissed the appeal filed by former Prime Minister and leader of the “Les Transformateurs” party, Succès Masra. This decision definitively upholds his 20-year prison sentence, a ruling that immediately sparked widespread dismay and disappointment among his dedicated supporters.

In an official statement, Les Transformateurs asserted that the Chadian judicial system “forfeited an opportunity to make history” by confirming the verdict originally issued against their president last year.

The opposition party vehemently condemned the inherently political character of the proceedings. They emphasized that through “this decision, the Supreme Court once again affirms the profoundly political nature of President Masra’s arbitrary detention, which has now spanned 371 days,” clearly aiming to sideline a prominent opposition figure from the nation’s political landscape.

Furthermore, Les Transformateurs criticized the judiciary for disregarding numerous global appeals for Masra’s release, calls that highlighted the injustice and underscored fundamental principles of the rule of law. Adding to their concerns, supporters of the former Chadian Prime Minister expressed deep anxiety regarding his health, which they reported has “considerably deteriorated.”

Masra had been found guilty of criminal association and complicity in murder following the tragic Mandakao massacre, an event that occurred in May 2025 in a village within the Logone Occidental province. With all national legal avenues now exhausted, the legal team representing the opposition leader is reportedly considering taking the case to international jurisdictions.