In Chad, the eight-year prison sentence handed down to eight leaders of the opposition coalition GCAP on May 8, 2026, has ignited fierce criticism from political figures across the country. The verdict, perceived as an escalation in state repression, has intensified debates about the erosion of public liberties under the current administration.

While some opposition members express skepticism about the surprise factor of the ruling, many view it as a deliberate move to stifle dissent and consolidate power. Critics argue that the judicial process leading to the sentence lacked transparency, undermining the very foundations of fair justice.

Alifa Younous Mahamat, coordinator of the Parti socialiste sans frontière (PSF) in Europe, condemns the verdict, calling it a blatant violation of due process. He contends that this ruling is part of a broader pattern targeting opposition voices, including the recent imprisonment of Succès Masra, the revocation of citizenship for exiled activists, and the violent suppression of the PSF in 2024—when its leader, Yaya Dillo, was killed during a military raid on the party’s headquarters. The party’s secretary-general, Robert Gam, was later forced into exile after months of secret detention.

Mahamat warns that Chad’s judiciary is increasingly being weaponized against political opponents, signaling a dangerous shift toward authoritarian control.

Political opposition under siege

Albert Pahimi Padacké, leader of the Rassemblement national des démocrates tchadiens (RNDT) and former Prime Minister, describes the sentence as a calculated move by the ruling Mouvement patriotique du salut (MPS) to dismantle dissent. Since the establishment of the Fifth Republic, he argues, the government has systematically targeted opposition figures through arrests, prosecutions, and restrictive policies.

Padacké, who admits to fears of personal legal repercussions, suggests that the regime’s aggressive tactics reveal deep-seated political insecurity. The crackdown, he believes, aims to instill fear among opposition leaders while suppressing any challenge to the government’s authority.

Observers warn that these developments are shrinking the democratic space in Chad. The wave of arrests, politically motivated trials, and restrictions on political movements are eroding the freedoms of expression and assembly, leaving activists and opposition figures increasingly vulnerable.