Chad's Ex-PM Masra Jailed for Inciting Violence

Chad's former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of hate speech, xenophobia, and incitement to violence following deadly inter-communal clashes in May 2024 that killed dozens, including many women and children. The court also imposed a substantial fine, while prosecutors had sought a 25-year sentence and the freezing of Masra's assets. Nearly 70 co-defendants, mostly from the Ngambaye ethnic group, were tried alongside Masra, highlighting ethnic divisions in Chad. Masra, leader of the Les Transformateurs party and a prominent critic of President Mahamat Idriss Deby, denied all charges and plans to appeal, arguing a lack of evidence. He previously went on a hunger strike in jail and returned to Chad under a 2024 amnesty after a prior crackdown. The verdict underscores ongoing political tensions and ethnic marginalization in Chad, particularly in the wake of Deby's recent consolidation of power.