Chad activists warn of growing authoritarian drift ahead of nationwide protests

The Wakit Tama political movement has intensified calls for a peaceful rally on May 16, 2026, denouncing what it describes as a dangerous slide toward dictatorship under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s regime.

Journalists hailed as defenders against oppression

During a press briefing, movement leaders praised Chadian journalists for their role as “a bulwark against forgetting and deception,” despite facing mounting pressures, threats, and repression. “In a climate of fear, they remain the voice of truth,” a spokesperson stated.

Eight opposition figures sentenced to eight years in prison

Wakit Tama condemned the recent eight-year prison sentences handed down to eight political leaders from the GCAP coalition, calling the verdict “a travesty of justice.” The movement accused the judiciary of becoming “an instrument of political control.”

Demand for unconditional release of political prisoners

• Immediate and unconditional release of all detained political figures
• Freedom for former Prime Minister Succès Masra and other imprisoned activists

Silence from human rights groups and international partners

The movement criticized the lack of response from human rights organizations and foreign allies regarding alleged violations of fundamental freedoms in Chad. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” the spokesperson declared.

May 16 rally to demand justice and dignity

Wakit Tama reaffirmed its call for mass participation in the upcoming protests, vowing to “make the government hear the people’s demand for freedom, dignity, and respect for human rights.” The movement stressed that Chad’s citizens “ask not for favors, but for the enforcement of their constitutional rights.”

Activists have warned that repression and injustice will only fuel further unrest unless authorities address the growing political crisis.