Hundreds rally in Chad demanding release of opposition leader Succes Masra
Hundreds of supporters gathered in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, on Wednesday to call for the release of opposition leader and former prime minister Succes Masra, who has remained in custody for nearly a year.
The demonstration was organised by members of Les Transformateurs, widely regarded as Chad’s largest opposition party, as the group marked its eighth anniversary at party headquarters in the capital.
Large numbers of mostly young supporters attended the gathering despite high temperatures, holding placards and chanting slogans demanding freedom for Masra, one of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s strongest political opponents.
Party leaders used the occasion to renew criticism of the government and call attention to what they described as politically motivated detentions.
Speaking during the event, Les Transformateurs secretary-general Ngagorngar Tog-Yeum described Masra as a political figure being unfairly punished.
“An innocent man is today deprived of his freedom and basic rights for having carried the voice and embodied the hope of the entire people,” he said.
Tog-Yeum also called for the release of several other opposition activists linked to the GCAP movement, who were arrested in recent days.
According to party officials, the detained activists — like Masra — should not be imprisoned, and their arrests reflect growing pressure on opposition voices in the country.
Masra’s legal troubles escalated last August when a court in N’Djamena sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
He was convicted on charges including hate speech, xenophobia, and inciting violence linked to deadly intercommunal clashes in May that left at least 42 people dead.
The case drew national and international attention, with critics questioning whether the charges were politically motivated.
Masra, an economist trained in France and Cameroon, built his political reputation as one of the most outspoken critics of Chad’s ruling authorities.
Despite his opposition stance, he was appointed prime minister just five months before Chad’s 2024 presidential election, a move seen by some as an attempt at political reconciliation.
However, the alliance was short-lived.
Masra later contested the 2024 presidential election against President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
Official results showed Deby winning with 61.3% of the vote, while Masra secured 18.5%.
Masra rejected the outcome and publicly declared victory, further intensifying political tensions in the country.
His supporters have continued to maintain that the election was flawed and that his imprisonment is linked to his political challenge against the current administration.
Wednesday’s demonstration reflects continued frustration among opposition supporters, especially young people who see Masra as a symbol of political change in Chad.
Security conditions in the country remain tense, with authorities closely monitoring opposition activities.
As pressure grows for his release, it remains unclear whether Chad’s government will respond to the demands from supporters and opposition groups.
Masra’s detention continues to be a major point of political division in Chad, with many watching closely for developments in the months ahead.
