Tchad political crisis: opposition party warns of alarming instability

In a high-profile press briefing held yesterday at its headquarters in Bololo, the 2nd arrondissement of N’Djamena, the opposition party Les Patriotes delivered a scathing assessment of Chad’s current security and political climate. Speaking on behalf of the party, spokesperson Hisseine Abdoulaye condemned what he described as a « politico-security meltdown » and criticized the recent court ruling against eight political leaders affiliated with the former Groupe de concertation des acteurs politiques (GCAP) as fundamentally unjust.

Security breakdown fuels regional instability

Chad is grappling with a surge in violent incidents across multiple regions. In the Lac Province, renewed offensives by Boko Haram have intensified, while eastern and southern areas are experiencing a troubling rise in intercommunal clashes. Recent military operations in Barka Tolorom and Kaïga Kindjiria reportedly resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers. Meanwhile, in the Wadi Fira region, tribal violence fueled by the influx of weapons from Sudan has already claimed over 40 lives.

Political repression targets opposition voices

The party highlighted a pattern of alleged repression, citing the disputed « assassination » of opposition figure Yaya Dillo, the detention of Succès Masra, and the Supreme Court’s dissolution of the GCAP. Additionally, they accused authorities of systematically curtailing public freedoms and targeting independent media outlets.

The court’s decision to sentence eight party leaders—including Nassour Ibrahim Koursami, president of Les Patriotes—to eight years in prison has drawn sharp condemnation. The accused were arrested on April 25 at the PAP/JS headquarters without a warrant, according to their claims. Charges of illegal assembly, criminal association, insurrection, rebellion, and illegal arms possession were leveled against them, though the party insists these accusations lack any tangible evidence.

Les Patriotes has accused the prosecutor, the Minister of Territorial Administration, and the Supreme Court president of orchestrating a rushed judicial process designed to silence political dissent. The party is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees and has called on the international community to closely monitor the case.

Concluding the briefing, Hisseine Abdoulaye issued a rallying cry for public mobilization, urging citizens to « end this political charade and restore democracy ». Echoing the words of George Orwell, he warned: « Tyranny fears truth because truth does not bow. »