Chad: ‘les Patriotes’ party warns of escalating political and security crisis

The political party Les Patriotes held a press conference this Wednesday, May 13, at its headquarters in the Bololo district of the second arrondissement of N’Djamena. The party’s spokesperson, Hisseine Abdoulaye, described the current situation as a « politically and security-wise chaotic crisis » while condemning what he termed an unjust conviction of eight political party leaders from the former Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP).

Burgeoning violence and instability across Chad

The party highlighted Chad’s growing instability, marked by a surge in Boko Haram attacks in the Lac Province and escalating intercommunal clashes in the east and south of the country. Recent military offensives in Barka Tolorom and Kaïga Kindjiria reportedly resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers. Meanwhile, tribal violence fueled by arms trafficking from Sudan in the Wadi Fira region has claimed over 40 lives.

Political repression and shrinking democratic space

On the political front, Les Patriotes condemned what they describe as a crackdown on opposition figures. They pointed to the killing of Yaya Dillo, the imprisonment of Succès Masra, and the dissolution of the GCAP by the Supreme Court. The party also accused authorities of restricting public freedoms and targeting the press.

The party strongly contested the eight-year prison sentences handed down to eight former GCAP party leaders, arrested on April 25 at the headquarters of the PAP/JS without a warrant, according to their accounts. Among those convicted is Nassour Ibrahim Koursami, leader of Les Patriotes. The charges—including unlawful assembly, criminal association, insurrection, rebellion, and illegal possession of firearms—were deemed baseless by the party, which alleges that the prosecutor, the Minister of Territorial Administration, and the Supreme Court president orchestrated a swift legal process to silence political opposition.

A call for unity and international scrutiny

Les Patriotes demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all convicted individuals and urged the international community to closely monitor the case. In closing, Hisseine Abdoulaye issued a rallying cry for citizen mobilization, declaring, « We must end this political charade and restore democracy. » Echoing George Orwell, he added, « The tyrants fear the truth because it does not obey. »