Chadian Opposition Leader, Succès Masra, Imprisoned for Two Decades Following a Rapid Trial
In a dramatic turn of events, Succès Masra, the former Prime Minister of Chad and leader of the opposition party Les Transformateurs, was expeditiously tried and convicted on August 9, 2025 for charges including incitement to violence, hate speech, xenophobia, complicity in murder, arson, and desecration of graves.
The trial, which took place in the N'Djamena High Court, involved Masra and approximately 70 other individuals. The charges stem from deadly inter-communal violence that erupted in May 2025 near Mandakao, Chad.
Background
Masra, a fierce critic of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, ran in Chad’s May 2024 presidential elections amid political tensions marked by rising violence and crackdowns on opposition activists and journalists.
Incident and Charges
On May 14, 2025, violent clashes erupted between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers in Logone Occidental (near Mandakao), resulting in 42 deaths, mostly women and children. Masra was arrested two days later and charged with inciting this violence along with multiple other crimes, including complicity in murder and destruction of property.
Trial and Conviction
Masra was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 1 billion CFA francs (~US$1.8 million or 1.5 million euros). The court found him guilty of spreading messages that fueled hatred and violence. At least some co-defendants were released, but many received similar sentences. Masra and his lawyers denounced the verdict as politically motivated and lacking evidence, with plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Political Context
The conviction is seen as part of a broader crackdown on political opposition in Chad, following years of increasing repression since 2021. This includes the killing of opposition figures and the violent dispersal of protests. Masra’s conviction significantly undermines hopes for democratic reform and an independent judiciary in the country.
The arrest of Masra occurred on May 16th, 2025, when military forces surrounded his residence. The Transformateurs party denounced Masra's arrest as a "kidnapping". The court announced the massive trial with 70 men accused in parallel. Masra was in detention for 82 days prior to his conviction.
The video clip showing Masra leaving his residence, surrounded by armed men, was released by the Transformateurs party. Over a dozen armed men in uniform were present during Masra's arrest. The trial is ongoing, with Masra and his lawyers planning to appeal the verdict.
Masra was a presidential candidate in 2024. The circumstances surrounding Masra's arrest are being contested by the Transformateurs party. Masra was found guilty of disseminating hateful and xenophobic messages. The trial involving Masra is not ongoing, but rather concluded on August 9th, 2025.
The trial of Succès Masra, a former Chadian Prime Minister and opposition leader, concluded on August 9, 2025, with charges including incitement to violence, hate speech, xenophobia, complicity in murder, arson, and desecration of graves stemming from war-and-conflicts-related incidents. The trial, rooted in the deadly inter-communal violence that erupted in May 2025 near Mandakao, Chad, also involved politics as it was seen as part of a broader crackdown on political opposition in Chad, with crime-and-justice aspects such as the denounced verdict being politically motivated and lacking sufficient evidence.
