Tchad opposition leader succèS masra remains jailed after appeal rejected

The Supreme Court of Chad has upheld the conviction of former Prime Minister and prominent opposition figure Succès Masra on Thursday, May 21, amid escalating political tensions in N’Djamena.

Appeal dismissed, lengthy prison sentence upheld

Succès Masra, a leading figure in the opposition, will remain behind bars after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence imposed last August. The court’s decision was confirmed following a closed hearing, with one of his lawyers, Me Francis Kadjilembaye, stating: “Despite presenting robust legal arguments, the Supreme Court chose to uphold the original verdict.”

The former Prime Minister was arrested in May 2025 and convicted on charges of inciting hatred and xenophobia as well as complicity in murder — allegations widely seen as politically motivated by human rights observers.

Human rights groups condemn judicial process

Human Rights Watch has described Masra’s trial as a politically driven proceeding, highlighting what it calls government intolerance toward dissent. Security around the Supreme Court in N’Djamena was notably heavy, with several journalists reportedly denied access to the proceedings.

Political climate remains tense

The Supreme Court’s ruling comes at a time of heightened political unrest in Chad. Earlier this month, eight opposition leaders were sentenced to eight years in prison on charges including insurrection. Authorities also dissolved the country’s main opposition coalition just days before these convictions. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the government of intimidation and banning public protests.

Tensions peaked at the end of April when a member of Les Transformateurs, Masra’s political party, was fatally shot by police during a rally demanding his release.

From opposition critic to Prime Minister — and back to prison

An economist trained in France and Cameroon, Succès Masra rose to prominence as a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno before being appointed Prime Minister in 2024. He ran against Déby in the presidential election that same year, officially receiving 18.5% of the vote compared to Déby’s 61.3%. Masra rejected the results, claiming victory and alleging electoral irregularities.