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Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has pardoned former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra, along with eight other opposition figures serving prison sentences.
The presidential order, published on the presidency’s Facebook page, granted a “full remission of custodial sentences for the convicted”, effectively ending their jail terms.
Masra, leader of the opposition party, had been one of Deby’s strongest critics before he was appointed prime minister in January 2024, just months before the presidential election. He later contested the vote against Deby, who won with 61.3 per cent of the vote, while Masra received 18.5 per cent. Masra rejected the result and claimed he had won.
He was arrested in May 2025 and sentenced three months later to 20 years in prison after being convicted of hate speech, xenophobia and inciting a massacre. Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organisation, criticised the trial and described the case as politically motivated.
Deby has governed Chad since 2021, following a military transition after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed during a rebel offensive after three decades in power.
The eight other opposition figures pardoned alongside Masra had each received eight-year prison sentences after being convicted of inciting an insurrection and organising a banned demonstration.
Ndolembai Sade Njesada, vice president of Masra’s party, welcomed the decision and said the opposition was ready to engage in dialogue.
“We hope to soon sit down around a table to move peace forward,” Njesada said.
The pardon comes as Chad’s authorities have faced pressure over political freedoms and the treatment of opposition figures. The move could open a new phase of engagement between the government and opposition groups after years of political disputes.
