Chad: state repression intensifies against political opposition

The recent conviction of leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), a prominent coalition within Chad’s opposition, cannot be dismissed as a mere judicial verdict. It starkly illuminates a more disturbing reality: a ruling authority that systematically criminalizes its adversaries and meticulously restricts democratic participation.

Since the Conseil militaire de transition (CMT) seized power in April 2021, Chad has experienced a consistent and progressive erosion of political freedoms. This concerning trajectory is extensively documented by numerous national and international human rights organizations, which consistently report a shrinking civic space.

Their comprehensive reports specifically highlight the escalating limitations on fundamental freedoms…