Political protest in Chad (file photo)
N’Djamena, Chad — A court in Chad’s capital N’Djamena has sentenced six of the country’s most prominent opposition politicians to prison terms ranging from two to five years, in a case that critics and international rights groups say represents a significant escalation of the ruling military administration’s crackdown on dissent. Among those convicted were former Prime Minister Sergio Alhabardjo, who received a five-year sentence for “undermining state security” and “incitement to rebellion,” and three senior members of the Transformers party, the main opposition formation led by opposition figure Succès Masra. The convictions stem from statements made by the politicians following disputed legislative elections in February, which the opposition says were manipulated to deliver an overwhelming parliamentary majority to the military-backed party. The government disputes this characterization, with the interior ministry issuing a statement describing the sentences as “the application of the law to those who broke it.” Masra, who was not among those sentenced but whose party is at the center of the case, called the proceedings a “political theater” designed to silence legitimate opposition. “These are not the verdicts of an independent judiciary,” he said in a video posted to social media. “They are the decisions of a military junta that cannot tolerate accountability.” The sentences drew swift condemnation from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which called for the convictions to be “reviewed by an independent and impartial body” and warned that the case risks undermining Chad’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The European Union also issued a statement expressing “concern” about the sentences and their implications for democratic space in Chad, adding that “credible opposition and a free press are essential components of any functioning democracy.” Human rights organizations operating in Chad say the convictions are part of a broader pattern of judicial action against dissenting voices that has accelerated since the transitional authorities suspended constitutional order in 2023. More than two dozen civil society activists, journalists, and opposition members are currently detained, according to Chadian human rights group AMEPT. The international response puts additional pressure on Chad’s military leadership, which has sought to burnish its democratic credentials ahead of a promised transition to civilian rule. The transitional charter calls for elections, but opposition figures and regional analysts have expressed skepticism about the timeline, pointing to what they describe as a systematic effort to eliminate viable political competitors before any vote takes place.
France, Chad’s former colonial ruler and still its primary security partner, has so far not issued a direct condemnation, though sources close to the Élysée say concern has been communicated through diplomatic channels.