A wave of protest led by women swept through the Chadian capital on Friday as supporters of opposition leader Succès Masra marked his 50th day in detention with a symbolic demonstration, denouncing what they described as a “political trial” aimed at silencing dissent.
At the headquarters of Les Transformateurs party in N’Djamena, dozens of activists—predominantly women—gathered under the banner of “Balcony of Hope” to express solidarity with their leader.
The rally came just one day after Masra ended a week-long hunger strike, which he had undertaken to protest what he called “injustices” and to show “solidarity with the Chadian people.”
Claudia Hoinaty, vice-president for women’s engagement within the party, read a statement to the crowd, sharply criticizing the government. “The Chadian people are not fooled.
They understand that it is a voice they are trying to silence, not a crime they are trying to prosecute,” she said, demanding Masra’s “immediate release.”
Masra, a former Prime Minister turned prominent opposition figure, was detained under what his legal team claims were deeply flawed procedures.
His lawyers allege that his arrest was conducted without a warrant, that his police custody exceeded legal time limits, and that unauthorized searches and document falsifications marred the process.
His decision to suspend the hunger strike on June 30 reportedly came after urgent medical advice, citing deteriorating health conditions exacerbated by what his legal team described as “austere” detention circumstances.
The fast, which included complete abstention from food, water, and medical attention, had raised serious health concerns.
In a handwritten letter dated June 24 from his prison cell, Masra described his incarceration as “a prison that reflects the invisible chains imposed on an entire people.”
He denounced “structural” inequality in Chad and called for “peaceful mobilization for collective emancipation.”
Legal appeals to release Masra were rejected on June 19 by the indictment chamber, a decision his supporters have labeled a “denial of justice.”
Francis Kadjilembaye, spokesperson for the defense team, said, “We now await his confrontation with the investigating judge, and are confident about what will happen next.”
The demonstration was also marked by powerful symbolism: some women appeared partially unclothed in a traditional gesture of protest, and Masra’s mother was present in a show of family solidarity.
Despite rising tensions, Masra’s legal team urged activists to “remain disciplined and determined,” reiterating their commitment to upholding the rule of law.
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