Tchad opposition leader Succès Masra remains behind bars after appeal rejected

The Supreme Court of Tchad has upheld the conviction of opposition leader and former Prime Minister Succès Masra, delivering a decisive blow in a case that has intensified political tensions in N’Djamena.

Supreme Court delivers final verdict on Masra’s case

Succès Masra will remain in detention after the Tchad Supreme Court rejected his appeal on May 21, according to his legal team. “Despite presenting robust legal arguments, the court chose to uphold the original ruling,” stated Me Francis Kadjilembaye, one of Masra’s attorneys.

Arrested in May 2025, the former Prime Minister was sentenced in August of the same year to 20 years in prison for alleged “spreading hateful and xenophobic messages” and “complicity in murder.”

Human rights groups condemn politically motivated trial

Human Rights Watch has labeled the proceedings against Masra as a politically driven prosecution, highlighting what it describes as the government’s intolerance toward dissent. On the day of the verdict, heavy security surrounded the Supreme Court in N’Djamena, with several journalists reportedly denied access to the hearing.

Tchad’s political climate remains volatile

The court’s decision arrives amid escalating political tensions in Tchad. Earlier this month, eight opposition figures were handed eight-year prison sentences, primarily for charges of insurrection. Authorities also dissolved the country’s leading opposition coalition in the days leading up to these convictions. Opposition parties have frequently accused the government of intimidation tactics and banning public demonstrations.

In late April, a member of Les Transformateurs—Masra’s political party—was killed by police during a protest demanding his release.

From opposition figure to Prime Minister

An economist trained in France and Cameroon, Succès Masra rose to prominence as a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno before being appointed Prime Minister in 2024. That same year, he ran against Déby in the presidential election, officially securing 18.5% of the vote against the incumbent’s 61.3%. Masra contested the results, asserting that he had actually won the election.