Keypoints:
- Ex-PM and opposition leader Succès Masra jailed for 20 years over May violence
- He denies charges, says case is politically driven, and will appeal
- Sentence follows deadly unrest that killed at least 42 in Logone Occidental
CHAD’S former prime minister and main opposition leader, Succès Masra, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a special criminal chamber in N’Djamena found him guilty of inciting deadly communal violence in May that left more than 40 people dead.
Court verdict and penalties
Masra, leader of the Les Transformateurs (‘The Transformers’) party, was convicted of hate speech, xenophobia, and inciting a massacre. The court also ordered him to pay a fine of CFA1bn (about $1.8 million). The prosecution had pushed for a 25-year term, asset seizures, and higher compensation.
Denials and legal fight
Masra denied all charges, telling the court he was being punished for political reasons. His lawyers argued the prosecution failed to produce any concrete evidence linking him to the violence. Francis Kadjilembaye, one of his defence lawyers, described the ruling as an act of ‘ignominy and unworthy humiliation’ and confirmed plans to appeal.
Political backdrop
The violence occurred in Logone Occidental province on 14 May, where 42 people were killed in inter-communal clashes. Masra was arrested two days later, along with 74 others accused of involvement. In July, he went on a hunger strike to protest his detention, ending it after a women-led demonstration called for his release.
Masra ran against President Mahamat Idriss Déby in the May 2024 presidential election, losing to the incumbent. His conviction is expected to heighten concerns among international observers over political freedoms and judicial independence in Chad.
