Chadian President Mahamat Déby has pardoned former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succès Masra, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence over charges linked to deadly violence in the south-west of the country.
The decision paves the way for the release of one of Déby’s most prominent political rivals, who claimed to have defeated the president in Chad’s 2024 election.
Masra was arrested in May over alleged links to clashes in the south-west of the country in which authorities said at least 42 people were killed.
He was accused of spreading hateful messages on social media that authorities linked to the violence and was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Déby’s decision to pardon Masra came four days after he pledged to free a number of convicted individuals as part of efforts to promote national unity, peace and reconciliation.
However, the presidency stressed that the pardons do not amount to an amnesty, meaning the convictions have not been erased and those pardoned could still face legal consequences.
Eight other opposition figures were also granted pardons.
According to the presidency, they were members of the Group for the Coordination of Political Actors (GCAP), a prominent opposition coalition, and had each been serving eight-year prison sentences after being arrested in April for organising a banned demonstration.
A presidential statement described the nine pardoned figures as individuals who had found themselves in conflict with the law despite holding positions of influence.
A separate decree also granted partial reductions in sentences to a number of other detainees across Chad.
Masra’s Transformers Party welcomed the announcement, saying on Facebook that the move marked the beginning of a “new page” and calling on Chadians to “write it together”.
The party had previously condemned Masra’s arrest as a kidnapping by military officers, claiming it had been carried out outside established judicial procedures.
The pardons were also welcomed by the opposition RNDT-Le Réveil party, which described the decision as an encouraging sign that could pave the way for greater political openness.
The party urged Déby to build on the move by pursuing sustained and inclusive dialogue in the interests of national reconciliation.
It remains unclear what the pardon will mean for Masra’s future political ambitions.
Masra briefly served as prime minister of Chad’s transitional government from January until May 2024 before contesting the presidential election against Déby.
He later claimed victory in the vote, although official results declared Déby the winner.
Masra’s party subsequently boycotted legislative elections in December 2024, citing concerns over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
