Chad opposition slams politicised justice over gcap leaders’ sentences

The Patriotes party has raised the alarm over what it describes as a deliberate manipulation of Chad’s judicial system following the sentencing of eight political leaders from the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP).

a wave of repression targeting dissent

In a press conference held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the party’s headquarters in Bololo, N’Djaména, spokesperson Hisseine Abdoulaye condemned the country’s mounting political and security turmoil. The GCAP members—all prominent figures in opposition circles—were handed eight-year prison sentences, a move the Patriotes argue is part of a broader crackdown on dissent.

The party highlighted Chad’s deepening crises, from escalating violence by Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin to deadly intercommunal clashes in the Wadi Fira region, which have left dozens dead. These security failures, they warned, are exacerbating instability and exposing the fragility of national institutions.

authoritarian drift fuels political tensions

Les Patriotes condemned what they termed a “hardening authoritarian stance” under the current administration, pointing to the recent convictions as evidence of a systematic effort to silence opposition voices. They drew parallels with the killing of Yaya Dillo, the imprisonment of Succès Masra, and now the GCAP leaders’ sentencing, framing these events as coordinated moves to weaken political rivals.

The party also criticised the swiftness of the legal proceedings, alleging collusion between the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Territorial Administration, and the Supreme Court to dismantle the dissolved coalition through politically motivated charges.

groundless accusations spark outrage

Les Patriotes rejected the allegations levelled against the GCAP leaders—ranging from illegal assembly and conspiracy to insurrection, rebellion, and illegal arms possession—as baseless. They insisted no tangible evidence supports the accusations, labelling some charges as outright fabrications designed to justify the crackdown.

The party urged international observers, human rights defenders, and rule-of-law advocates to closely monitor the case, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the eight incarcerated leaders and all other political prisoners.

call for unity amid growing unrest

Concluding the press briefing, Les Patriotes issued an urgent appeal for citizen mobilisation, national dialogue, and reconciliation to safeguard Chad’s democratic institutions and prevent further escalation of political and security tensions.