The recent conviction of leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), a prominent coalition of the Chadian opposition, signifies more than a mere judicial ruling. It starkly reveals a government that systematically criminalizes its opponents and deliberately restricts the democratic sphere in Chad.

Since the military council of transition (CMT) seized power in April 2021, Chad has experienced a continuous and alarming erosion of political freedoms. This concerning trend has been extensively documented by numerous national and international human rights organizations, which consistently report a shrinking civic space within the nation.

Their detailed reports specifically highlight increasing limitations on fundamental freedoms…