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3d ago

Chad Court Sentences Succès Masra to 20 Years

His sentencing highlights President Mahamat Déby’s tactic of leveraging the courts to curb dissent during Chad’s fragile transition.

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Masra's lawyers argued that no concrete evidence against him had been presented to the court
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Overview

  • A N’Djamena criminal court convicted Masra of incitement to hatred, xenophobia and complicity in murders before imposing a 20-year prison term and heavy fines.
  • Prosecutors had asked for a 25-year sentence, the freezing of Masra’s assets and 5 billion CFA francs in state compensation, and Masra’s lawyers immediately announced an appeal.
  • Charges stem from a May 14 inter-communal clash between Fulani herders and Ngambaye farmers in Logone Occidental that left dozens dead.
  • Masra served as Chad’s prime minister from January to May 2024 and leads the Les Transformateurs party, having returned from exile to challenge President Déby.
  • Analysts say the trial exemplifies a broader pattern of judicial measures used to suppress opposition during the country’s sensitive political transition.