Opposition leader Chad imprisoned for two decades due to inciting disorder and violence
In a controversial verdict, Chad's criminal court has sentenced the former prime minister and opposition leader, Success Masra, to 20 years in prison. The sentence was handed down on August 9, 2025, following his conviction on charges of incitement to hatred, complicity to murder, and unauthorized possession of ammunition. These charges stem from a deadly clash between herders and farmers that occurred in May 2024 in the Logone Occidental region.
Masra, the head of the Les Transformateurs party, has denied the charges and announced plans to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court. The clash left 35 people dead and six others injured, and Masra, along with 67 co-defendants, mostly from the same Ngambaye ethnic group, have been on trial for causing the conflict.
The background of the case is politically charged. Masra served briefly as prime minister from January to May 2024 before breaking with the transitional government led by President Mahamat Déby, who assumed power in 2021 after the death of his father, longtime leader Idriss Déby Itno. Masra’s party, Les Transformateurs, strongly opposed Déby's presidency and the elections held earlier in 2024, which they criticized as illegitimate.
Chad experienced growing political repression, increased violence against opposition members and protesters, and a shrinking political space in the lead-up to the May 2024 fighting and elections. The prosecutor general initially requested a 25-year prison sentence and asset freezing, along with compensation of roughly $8.9 million to the state. The final sentence was 20 years with a fine of about $1.8 million for Masra and those convicted alongside him. Nine defendants were released due to lack of evidence.
The conviction of Masra is widely seen as politically motivated and an effort by President Déby to suppress political opposition and consolidate power amid Chad’s fragile transition. The ruling bars Masra from holding public office, a decision that his party hopes to overturn through appeal or potentially amnesty.
Before leaving the courtroom, Masra addressed his supporters with a message: "Stand firm." His conviction marks a significant blow to democratic opposition in Chad.
References: 1. BBC News, "Chad: Ex-PM Succès Masra jailed for 20 years," 2025. 2. Al Jazeera, "Chad opposition leader Succès Masra jailed for 20 years," 2025. 3. Reuters, "Chad's opposition leader Masra sentenced to 20 years in prison," 2025. 4. France 24, "Chad opposition leader Succès Masra jailed for 20 years," 2025. 5. Voice of America, "Chad: Ex-Prime Minister Succès Masra Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison," 2025.
- In light of the escalating political tension in Chad, Seattle-based news outlets are closely monitoring the controversial 20-year prison sentence handed to opposition leader Success Masra, who was convicted of incitement to hatred, complicity to murder, and unauthorized possession of ammunition.
- Seattle general news channels are reporting on the political implications of the 20-year prison sentence for Chad's former prime minister Masra, who plans to appeal the verdict, and how it could affect the fragile transition of power in Chad amid allegations of political motivation and suppression of opposition.
