Succès Masra on Trial: A Political Persecution Disguised as Justice
By: Charilogone Editorial TeamThe trial of Succès Masra, former transitional Prime Minister and president of the opposition party Les Transformateurs, opened in N’Djamena under a climate of repression and institutional lockdown. Accused of instigating the Mandakao massacre on May 14, 2025 — in which 42 civilians were killed — Masra and 65 co-defendants face a proposed sentence of 25 years in prison. The charges are severe: incitement to hatred, complicity in murder, formation of armed groups, dissemination of xenophobic messages, and desecration of graves.
Yet behind this judicial façade lies a clear case of political persecution. The central piece of evidence — an audio message in the Ngambaye language from 2023 — is a decontextualized excerpt that offers no direct link to the tragic events in Mandakao. Masra’s legal team has denounced the trial as a fabricated process, lacking material evidence and violating the political agreements signed in October 2024 between Masra and the government.
Since his arrest on May 16, 2025, Charilogone Media has consistently documented abuses committed by the authorities: warrantless detention, arbitrary imprisonment, intimidation of supporters, and the manipulation of the judiciary to silence a political opponent. This trial is not a pursuit of truth — it is a tool of political elimination, designed to crush the popular momentum surrounding Masra and suppress dissenting voices.
The Chadian people are not fooled. In the south, Masra remains a symbol of hope, social justice, and inclusive governance. Elsewhere, even among those seeking justice for the victims of Mandakao, many question the integrity of the judicial process. The trial is widely seen as a power play, a troubling sign of the erosion of democracy in Chad.
It is not only Masra who stands trial — it is the future of political pluralism, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. The people demand a break from authoritarian practices, an independent judiciary, and above all, recognition of their deep aspirations for dignity and truth.
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