The Special Court in N’Djamena has denied a request for the provisional release of three journalists currently facing prosecution on charges linked to national security.
The court upheld the pre-trial detention of Monodji Mbaidiguim Olivier, Mahamat Saleh Hisseine, and Ndilyam Alladoum.
The three media professionals are accused of “interviewing agents of a foreign power and intelligence likely to harm Chad’s military or diplomatic situation or its economic interests.”
Monodji Mbaidiguim, who serves as both the editor of the independent newspaper Le Pays and as the local correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI), has been held in custody at the N’Djamena remand center since March 5, alongside his two colleagues.
The charges they face are serious, carrying prison sentences ranging from one to five years under Chadian law.
During the court session, the 9th deputy prosecutor formally requested a two-year prison sentence for each of the three journalists.
Although a total of 16 journalists have been implicated in the case, only the trio remains behind bars at this time.
This high-profile case has drawn significant attention from media rights groups, who have raised concerns about the shrinking space for press freedom in Chad.
However, no formal statement has been made by the government regarding the broader implications of the case or the status of the other journalists involved.
As the trial proceeds, observers say the outcome could set a precedent for how journalism and national security are balanced in the country.
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