Chadian lawyers secure provisional release for gcap leaders due to health concerns

Two prominent figures from Chad’s former political coordination group, the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), have been temporarily freed from custody following concerns over their deteriorating health conditions.

Legal team cites medical grounds for provisional freedom

According to legal representatives handling the case, Me Bidi Valentin and Bombay Kelo—both sentenced to eight years in prison—were released on provisional grounds due to their advanced age and multiple chronic illnesses. Their legal team emphasized that this measure was granted by the prosecution office in N’Djamena after medical evaluations deemed their conditions incompatible with continued detention.

While welcoming this decision, their attorney made it clear that the release remains provisional and does not constitute an acquittal. The legal proceedings against them are still ongoing, with further appeals pending.

Broader efforts to address health-related detention conditions

In parallel, the defense team has initiated similar requests for other defendants in the same case who are also suffering from health complications. The goal is to ensure that no detainee faces prolonged imprisonment when their medical needs cannot be adequately met within the prison system.

Appeal filed against the original verdict

The legal collective representing the former GCAP leaders has formally appealed the court’s decision. Their lawyers are now awaiting the review of the case by the N’Djamena Court of Appeal, where they hope to challenge the convictions on both legal and procedural grounds.

The initial verdict, handed down in early May, found the group’s leaders guilty of charges including rebellion, criminal association, and illegal possession of military-grade weapons. The case has drawn widespread attention due to its implications for political dissent and judicial processes in Chad.