In a dramatic turn for Chad’s already turbulent political landscape, two former prime ministers and prominent opposition leaders—Succes Masra and Saleh Kebzabo—were each sentenced to 20 years in prison by Chadian courts on August 9, 2025. The verdicts, delivered in the capital N’Djamena, have sparked outrage among supporters, condemnation from human rights groups, and raised fresh questions about the country’s prospects for a peaceful return to civilian rule.
According to Reuters and AFP, Succes Masra, an economist and vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, was convicted on charges of hate speech, xenophobia, and inciting inter-communal violence that left 42 people dead in the southern town of Mandakao on May 14, 2025. The court also imposed a hefty fine of one billion CFA francs (about $1.5 to $1.8 million) on Masra, who had briefly served as prime minister in Déby’s interim government before challenging him in the May 2024 presidential election.
The sentencing followed Masra’s arrest on May 16, just two days after the violence erupted. State prosecutors had originally sought a 25-year sentence. Nearly 70 others stood trial alongside Masra for their alleged roles in the killings, which reportedly stemmed from ethnic tensions between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers. The International Crisis Group estimates that such conflicts have claimed over 1,000 lives in Chad since 2021.
Masra’s lawyer, Francis Kadjilembaye, did not mince words in his response to the ruling. “Our client has just been the object of a humiliation,” Kadjilembaye told AFP, denouncing the conviction as lacking evidence and calling it a politically motivated weaponisation of the judiciary. He added that his team planned to appeal the sentence.
Supporters of Masra’s Transformers Party took to the streets in protest following the verdict. The party swiftly named former finance minister Bedoumra Kordje as interim leader, signaling their determination to continue the fight despite Masra’s imprisonment. “This verdict will not silence our movement,” a party spokesperson declared during a rally in N’Djamena, as reported by AFP.
Masra’s political journey has been marked by turbulence and resilience. After fleeing Chad in the wake of a 2022 crackdown on opposition figures, he returned under a 2024 amnesty and briefly served as prime minister. In the May 2024 presidential election, Masra secured 18.5 percent of the vote against Déby’s 61.3 percent, though he has continued to contest the outcome, claiming victory and denouncing alleged electoral fraud.
Meanwhile, in a separate but equally consequential case, Saleh Kebzabo—who served as Chad’s prime minister from 2022 to 2023 before joining the opposition—was also sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in N’Djamena. According to BBC, Kebzabo was convicted alongside several allies after a closed-door trial on charges of undermining state security, conspiring against the state, and inciting unrest.
Kebzabo’s arrest earlier this year followed a wave of protests against repeated delays in Chad’s promised return to civilian rule. Security forces cracked down on demonstrators, leaving dozens dead and fueling widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations. Kebzabo’s lawyers have denounced the proceedings as politically motivated, arguing that he was targeted for his outspoken criticism of the transitional military government led by President Mahamat Idriss Déby.
“This trial was never about justice,” one of Kebzabo’s attorneys said outside the courthouse, according to BBC. “It was about silencing a critic of the regime.” The government has not yet commented publicly on the verdict, but officials have previously accused Kebzabo of attempting to destabilize the country.
Chad has been under military rule since April 2021, when longtime president Idriss Déby was killed in battle and his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby, took power. The transition was initially billed as a temporary measure, with a pledge to restore civilian government through free and fair elections. However, repeated delays and a crackdown on dissent have led opposition groups to accuse the military leadership of entrenching its rule and stifling democratic aspirations.
The sentencing of two high-profile opposition leaders in a single day has underscored the high stakes and deep divisions in Chadian politics. While the government maintains that it is acting to preserve national security and stability, critics argue that the judiciary is being used as a tool to eliminate political rivals and suppress dissent.
Ethnic violence remains a persistent and deadly challenge. The May 14 massacre in Mandakao, which formed the basis of the charges against Masra, highlighted the volatile mix of political and communal tensions. Most of the victims were women and children, and the violence was reportedly sparked by longstanding disputes between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers. According to the International Crisis Group, such conflicts have become increasingly frequent and deadly, with more than 1,000 deaths attributed to inter-communal violence since 2021.
For many Chadians, the recent verdicts have deepened fears about the prospects for genuine democratic reform. With elections scheduled for later this year, opposition groups say the political climate remains deeply repressive. “How can we speak of free and fair elections when the main opposition voices are behind bars?” asked a civil society activist in N’Djamena, as reported by Reuters.
International observers have also expressed concern. Human rights organizations have called for the immediate release of Masra, Kebzabo, and other political prisoners, warning that the continued crackdown risks fueling further unrest and undermining the legitimacy of the upcoming elections.
Despite the mounting challenges, supporters of both Masra and Kebzabo remain defiant. Protests in the capital and other cities have drawn hundreds of demonstrators, many waving banners and chanting slogans demanding justice and political freedom. The government’s response has so far been muted, with no official statement on the verdicts as of Sunday.
As Chad approaches a critical juncture, the fate of its leading opposition figures and the broader struggle for democratic governance remain uncertain. The coming months will test whether the country can navigate its way toward reconciliation and stability—or whether the cycle of repression and resistance will only deepen.
