Chad’s supreme court upholds succés masra’s 20-year sentence, opposition decries political motives

The Supreme Court of Chad delivered a decisive blow on Thursday, May 21, by rejecting the appeal filed by former Prime Minister and prominent opposition leader, Succès Masra. This ruling definitively upheld his 20-year prison sentence, a judgment that immediately ignited a wave of outrage and profound disappointment among his dedicated supporters across Chad.

In a strongly worded statement, Masra’s political party, Les Transformateurs, asserted that the Chadian judicial system squandered a critical opportunity to demonstrate its impartiality. By confirming the initial verdict, which they described as politically motivated and issued last year, the court, in their view, failed to uphold justice.

The party vehemently condemned the inherently political nature of the proceedings. They highlighted that “this decision by the Supreme Court once again confirms the deeply political character of President Masra’s arbitrary detention, which has now spanned 371 days.” This, they argue, is a calculated maneuver to sideline a key opposition figure from Chad’s political landscape.

Furthermore, the opposition party criticized the judiciary for disregarding numerous international appeals that called for Masra’s release, denounced the perceived injustice, and emphasized adherence to the fundamental principles of the rule of law. Adding to their concerns, Masra’s loyalists have also voiced significant worry regarding his health, which they report has “considerably deteriorated” during his incarceration.

Masra’s conviction stems from charges of criminal conspiracy and complicity in murder, following the tragic Mandakao massacre. This devastating incident occurred in May 2025 in a village located within the Logone Occidental province. With all national legal avenues now exhausted, Masra’s legal team is reportedly contemplating taking their case to international judicial bodies in pursuit of justice.