Eight Chadian opposition leaders sentenced to eight years in prison
via SeneNews3 min read
Eight opponents of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby, arrested in late April, were sentenced to eight years in prison in N'Djamena. The defendants, all presidents of parties belonging to the Consultation Group of Political Actors GCAP, the main opposition coalition, were arrested a week before a "protest and indignation march" they had called for, which was banned by the government. They were subsequently placed in provisional detention as part of a judicial inquiry for "criminal association, insurrectional movement, rebellion, and illegal possession of war weapons." Their lawyer, Moussa Adoum, expressed disappointment with the decision, stating it was based on "non-existent offenses" and that justice was being used as a "tool of political pressure." He plans to appeal the judgment. The GCAP was dissolved by a Supreme Court order the day before the arrests. Mahamat Idriss Déby was elected president of Chad in May 2024 in a contested election, after a three-year transition following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno. The GCAP, which unites 13 political parties and civil society representatives, has consistently challenged elections and called for boycotts. In mid-April, the GCAP called on Chadians to protest against "injustice, exclusion, and for the restoration of our rights, freedoms, and justice." The Transformers party, a major opposition party, called for the release of the eight opponents in early May. In May 2025, Succès Masra, former Prime Minister and pres
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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