Chadian Opposition Leaders Sentenced to Prison
In a significant judicial decision, eight leaders from the Political Actors Consultation Group (GCAP) have been sentenced to eight years in prison by the High Court in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. The court found them guilty on multiple charges, including insurrection, rebellion, and disturbing public order.
The conviction comes after the leaders were apprehended last month. Alongside the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of 500,000 Central African francs (approximately $897) on each of the defendants. Although the prosecution had initially sought a 10-year sentence for each leader, the final decision resulted in a slightly lesser term.
GCAP has been a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Deby, and the group had advocated for a boycott of the upcoming 2024 election. The Chadian Supreme Court had previously dissolved GCAP in April, marking a significant blow to the opposition coalition.
This recent ruling is not the first instance of opposition leaders facing imprisonment in Chad. In October of the previous year, Succes Masra, who previously served as prime minister, received a 20-year prison sentence.
Adoum Moussa, representing the defense lawyers, expressed discontent with the court’s decision, stating, “We are not only surprised but disappointed by this court decision, which was based on non-existent offenses.”
