Tchad faces growing concerns over political freedoms amid opposition crackdown

In Chad, the sentencing of eight opposition leaders from the GCAP coalition to eight years in prison on May 8, 2026, has sparked widespread criticism and deep concerns about the state of political freedoms in the country.

Opposition figures are warning of an alarming shift toward authoritarianism, with many viewing the verdict as further evidence of the government’s tightening grip on dissent. While some observers anticipated the outcome, others describe it as a stark reminder of the escalating repression against political challengers.

Alifa Younous Mahamat, the European coordinator of the Parti socialiste sans frontière (PSF), has condemned the trial process, arguing that it failed to meet fair justice standards. He contends that this conviction is part of a broader campaign to silence opposition voices, pointing to a pattern of judicial actions targeting critics of the regime.

The political landscape in Chad has seen several high-profile cases in recent years, including the sentencing of Succès Masra, the stripping of citizenship for exiled activists, and the deadly military operation against the PSF headquarters in 2024, which resulted in the death of party leader Yaya Dillo. Additionally, Robert Gam, the party’s secretary-general, was released after months of secret detention but has since fled the country.

According to Alifa Younous Mahamat, Chad’s judiciary is increasingly being weaponized to suppress political opposition and stifle democratic aspirations.

Parliamentary opposition voices alarm

Albert Pahimi Padacké, leader of the Rassemblement national des démocrates tchadiens (RNDT) and a former Prime Minister, has also criticized the ruling, framing it as part of a systematic effort by the ruling Mouvement patriotique du salut (MPS) to marginalize political rivals.

Since the adoption of the Fifth Republic’s constitution, the MPS has allegedly intensified its crackdown on opposition figures, using legal and administrative measures to consolidate power. Pahimi Padacké warns that this strategy exposes the regime’s underlying political fragility while instilling fear among opposition leaders—many of whom now live under the threat of arrest or prosecution.

The recent wave of convictions has intensified fears about the shrinking democratic space in Chad. Opposition members argue that arrests, prosecutions, and restrictions on political movements are systematically eroding the rights to free expression and political participation in the country.