The former prime minister and leader of Les Transformateurs party, Succès Masra, was apprehended on charges of inciting hatred following violent inter-communal clashes in the southern regions of Chad. He subsequently received a stringent 20-year prison sentence in August 2025.

For the leadership and activists of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a somber anniversary, as it was on this date a year ago that their influential leader, Succès Masra, was forcibly removed from his home in the early morning hours.

Despite their leader’s year-long detention, the party maintains a resilient stance. Dr. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, the Secretary General of Les Transformateurs, conveyed this resolve.

“President Succès Masra, though incarcerated, remains a vital presence among us. The party, indeed, is thriving and continues to focus steadfastly on its objectives, refusing to be sidetracked. Dr. Succès Masra has committed no act warranting his imprisonment for a full year. No tangible evidence has been presented to substantiate the accusations leveled against him. We firmly believe this to be a profound administrative and judicial misstep. Today, the sole individual possessing the authority to rectify this error is Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. We earnestly hope he will embrace his responsibilities.”

A pattern of opposition detentions

Just last week, eight other prominent opposition party leaders, all members of the Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP), received 8-year prison sentences. Their arrests stemmed from planning a peaceful demonstration, which authorities deemed an