In a definitive ruling on Thursday, May 21, Chad’s Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by former Prime Minister and leader of Les Transformateurs party, Succès Masra. This decision unequivocally upheld his 20-year prison sentence, a judgment that immediately ignited widespread indignation and profound disappointment among his dedicated supporters across Chadian society.
Les Transformateurs, through an official statement, expressed their view that Chadian justice had “missed an opportunity to make history” by confirming the verdict originally issued against their president last year.
The party vehemently condemned the trial as overtly political, asserting that “this decision by the Supreme Court once again confirms the profoundly political nature of President Masra’s arbitrary detention, now spanning 371 days.” They contend this action is a clear attempt to remove a prominent figure from the landscape of African politics.
Furthermore, the opposition party criticized the judicial system for disregarding the numerous international voices that have called for Masra’s release, denounced the perceived injustice, and advocated for fundamental principles of the rule of law and sound governance Africa. Meanwhile, supporters of the former Chadian Prime Minister have voiced significant alarm regarding his health, which they report has “considerably deteriorated.”
Masra had been found guilty of criminal association and complicity in murder following the devastating Mandakao massacre, which occurred in a village within the Logone Occidental province in May 2025. With all national legal avenues now exhausted, the opposition leader’s legal team is reportedly considering an appeal to international jurisdictions.
