Chad Opposition Leader Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
Former Chadian Prime Minister and prominent opposition figure Succès Masra has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of disseminating racist and xenophobic messages inciting violence, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing his lawyer.
Masra, a staunch critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, served as prime minister in Déby's interim government for nearly five months before running against him in the May 2024 presidential election.
The charges stem from a violent incident in May in the southern town of Mandakou, where dozens were killed during clashes. The Chadian prosecutor's office opened an investigation into Masra that same month.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of one billion CFA francs, equivalent to about 1.8 million US dollars. Masra's legal team has confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
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