This Saturday, May 16, marks a full year since Succès Masra, a prominent Chadian opposition figure, was taken into custody. As the anniversary of his imprisonment passes, questions arise about the current state and future of Les Transformateurs, the political party he established.
The former Prime Minister and leader of Les Transformateurs party was apprehended for allegedly inciting hatred following intercommunal unrest in the country’s southern region. In August 2025, he received a 20-year prison sentence.
For the leadership and members of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a somber milestone – the day their esteemed leader, Succès Masra, was taken from his residence in the early morning hours a year ago.
Despite their leader’s year-long detention, the party maintains a confident outlook. Dr. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, the Secretary-General, conveyed this sentiment.
“President Succès Masra, though incarcerated, remains a vital presence among us. Indeed, the party is thriving and remains focused on its objectives, undistracted. Dr. Succès Masra has committed no act warranting a year of imprisonment. No evidence has been presented to substantiate the accusations against him. We are convinced this is an administrative and judicial error. The only individual capable of rectifying this mistake today is Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and we trust he will fulfill his responsibilities.”
Numerous opposition figures detained
Just last week, eight additional leaders from opposition parties, all members of the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP), received 8-year prison sentences. Their conviction for “criminal association, insurrectional movements, rebellion, and possession of war weapons” stemmed from their plans for a peaceful protest march. Sosthène Mbernodji, coordinator of the Mouvement Citoyen pour la Préservation des Libertés (MCPL), voiced his regret over these arrests, asserting that a meaningful political opposition no longer exists in Tchad.
“Since their leader has been incarcerated for a year, Les Transformateurs’ operational capacity has been significantly curtailed. Furthermore, the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP) was the sole remaining coalition offering an alternative perspective. Now, the authorities have employed the judiciary to dismantle this group and silence its eight leading members. I believe we are no longer in a democracy; we are witnessing the entrenchment of a monarchy, which is deeply regrettable for Tchad. It is imperative to de-escalate the social and political tension to move forward. At this juncture, the country has regressed nearly 40 to 50 years, returning to a single-party system reminiscent of the post-independence era.”
In response to this wave of arrests and convictions, approximately twenty opposition parties collectively issued a press release. They condemned what they described as the suppression of dissenting voices and the manipulation of the judicial system.
