By Hassan Abderamane

Chad’s decision to release 150 inmates from the Klessoum remand and correctional facility under Decree No. 2151/PR/2026 has triggered widespread reactions across the country, with observers weighing the implications for the justice system and the future of those now free.

The official handover ceremony, held on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, was led by the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, and Minister of Human Rights, Mrs. Ndolenodji Alixe Naïmbaye. The event took place inside the prison compound and brought together the Public Prosecutor at the N’Djamena High Court, the President of the N’Djamena High Court, the General Prosecutor at the N’Djamena Court of Appeal, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice, as well as heads of defence and security forces and civil society representatives.

In total, 150 detainees walked free under the terms of the decree, which grants a collective remission of sentences. The measure marks a significant moment in Chad’s ongoing efforts to address prison overcrowding and adjust the execution of criminal penalties.

A presidential gesture framed as justice with humanity

In her address, Minister Ndolenodji Alixe Naïmbaye paid warm tribute to the Head of State, describing the decision as one rooted in humanity and fairness. She said the President chose to extend clemency to citizens who had received final and enforceable sentences.

“For the Marshal of Chad, every citizen deserves competent, swift, accessible, and equitable justice,” she declared during the ceremony.

The minister explained that the pardon is a sovereign privilege enshrined in the constitution, often exercised by the President in various circumstances to benefit thousands of convicts whose sentences are either fully remitted or replaced with lighter penalties. She noted that Decree No. 2151/2026 of 14 August 2026, signed by Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, President of the Republic and Head of State, in his capacity as father of the nation, was issued with the fate of compatriots in conflict with the law in mind.

She praised the move as “an act steeped in humanism and compassion,” adding that its execution was more than just an event. “It is a high point where some of our fellow citizens with final common-law convictions will benefit from a partial and staggered reduction of their prison sentences, or even release,” she said.

Immediate application of the legal scale and targeted clemency

The immediate application of the legal scale set by the decree resulted in the automatic release of 150 detainees whose remaining sentences were fully served. The minister stressed that the decision responds to fundamental requirements of public policy on justice and prison administration on several fronts.

On one hand, it reflects a firm commitment to more humane detention conditions and a pragmatic adjustment of sentence enforcement. On the other, it represents a targeted but positive act of clemency.

Ndolenodji Alixe Naïmbaye also clarified that the measure applies exclusively to the criminal penalty of imprisonment and does not erase the rights of the State, civil parties, or third parties.

She reaffirmed the government’s determination to continue modernising judicial institutions and consolidating the rule of law, with the support of partners whose constant commitment she also acknowledged.

Release certificates and a moment of emotion

During the ceremony, release certificates were handed to the former detainees who benefited from the pardon under Decree No. 2151/PR/2026. The event was marked by joy and emotion before concluding with a group photo to immortalise the occasion.

As Chad moves forward, the pardon has sparked a broader conversation about the direction of justice reform, the reintegration of freed prisoners, and whether such measures can pave the way for lasting change in the country’s penal system.