The Supreme Court of Chad has definitively upheld the 20-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister and leader of the “Les Transformateurs” party, Succès Masra. On Thursday, May 21, the court dismissed his appeal, a decision that immediately sparked widespread outrage and disappointment among his supporters.

In a formal statement, “Les Transformateurs” expressed their strong belief that the Chadian justice system “missed a historic opportunity” by confirming the verdict originally issued against their president last year.

The party vehemently condemned the inherently political nature of the proceedings. They emphasized that “this decision by the Supreme Court once again confirms the profoundly political character of President Masra’s arbitrary detention, which has now lasted 371 days,” asserting it is a deliberate attempt to remove a prominent opposition figure from the political arena.

Furthermore, the opposition party criticized the judiciary for disregarding numerous international calls demanding Masra’s release, denouncing the injustice, and advocating for fundamental principles of the rule of law. Supporters of the former Chadian Prime Minister have also voiced significant apprehension regarding his health, which is reportedly “considerably deteriorated.”

Masra was convicted of criminal association and complicity in murder following the devastating Mandakao massacre, which occurred in May 2025 in a village within the Logone Occidental province. With all national legal avenues exhausted, Masra’s legal team is now reportedly considering taking the case to international judicial bodies.