Overview

• On August 9, a court in N’Djamena sentenced Masra to 20 years in prison and imposed a 1 billion CFA franc fine after finding him guilty of incitement, illegal arms possession and complicity in the May clashes that killed 42 people.
• Masra was tried alongside 74 co-defendants for alleged collaboration in the Mandakao violence, with most receiving 20-year terms while nine were released, and all defendants have appealed the verdict.
• Les Transformateurs appointed a collegial leadership team led by Bedoumra Kordje to sustain opposition activities and maintain party cohesion during Masra’s incarceration.
• Human Rights Watch and other observers describe the proceedings as a politically motivated effort to curtail dissent by weaponizing Chad’s judiciary and narrowing space for opposition.
• Chad’s international partners face a dilemma between upholding counterterrorism cooperation and pressing for democratic accountability as the conviction threatens an inclusive political transition.