Succès Masra, the former Prime Minister and leader of the Les Transformateurs party, was arrested for allegedly inciting hatred following inter-communal violence in southern Tchad. He received a twenty-year prison sentence in August 2025.

For the leadership and activists of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a somber anniversary. It was on this date a year ago that their prominent leader, Succès Masra, was taken from his home in the early morning hours.

Despite their leader’s year-long detention, the party projects an image of resilience, as articulated by its Secretary-General, Doctor Tog-Yeum Nagorngar.

“President Succès Masra, though incarcerated, remains a vital presence among us. Indeed, the party is thriving and continues to focus steadfastly on its objectives, refusing to be sidetracked. Doctor Succès Masra has committed no act warranting a year of imprisonment. No substantive evidence has been presented to support the accusations against him. We are convinced this is an administrative and judicial error. The only individual with the power to rectify this mistake today is Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. We earnestly hope he will fulfill his responsibilities.”

Numerous opposition figures detained

Just last week, eight additional leaders from opposition parties, all members of the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), received eight-year prison sentences. Their charges, including “criminal association, insurrectional movements, rebellion, and possession of war weapons,” stemmed from their plans for a peaceful protest march. Sosthène Mbernodji, coordinator of the Mouvement Citoyen pour la Préservation des Libertés (MCPL), expressed profound regret over these arrests, asserting that genuine political opposition no longer exists in Tchad.

“Since their leader was jailed a year ago, Les Transformateurs’ operational capacity has been severely curtailed. Furthermore, the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP) was the last remaining coalition offering an alternative voice. Now, the authorities have used the judiciary to dismantle this group and silence its eight leading members. I believe we are no longer operating within a democracy; instead, a long-term monarchy is taking root, which is deeply regrettable for Tchad. It is imperative to ease the social and political tensions to move forward. At this juncture, the country has regressed almost 40 to 50 years, returning to a single-party system reminiscent of the post-independence era.”

In response to this wave of arrests and convictions, approximately twenty opposition parties collectively issued a press statement condemning what they described as the suppression of dissenting voices and the manipulation of the justice system.