As the nation braces for a peaceful public demonstration scheduled for May 16, 2026, the political wing of the Wakit Tama movement has held a press briefing to voice strong opposition against what it describes as the authoritarian slide under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s administration.
The coalition hailed the bravery of Chad’s journalists, calling them “a vital shield against silence and deception”, despite facing what it termed “systematic harassment, intimidation, and repression”.
a call to action for justice and liberty
Abdelazim Mht Abakar, spokesperson for Wakit Tama, emphasized that the press conference aimed to expose the gravity of Chad’s ongoing political crisis to both domestic and international audiences. He went on to condemn the recent sentencing of eight political figures from the GCAP coalition to eight-year prison terms, branding the ruling “an outrageous miscarriage of justice” and accusing the judiciary of being “a political tool in the hands of the regime”.
Wakit Tama renewed its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees, singling out former Prime Minister Succès Masra and other prisoners of conscience for special mention.
silence in the face of rights violations
The movement also criticized the apparent inaction of human rights organizations and key international partners, which it says have failed to respond to the mounting evidence of flagrant violations of fundamental freedoms across the country.
“Chadian citizens are not asking for charity or special treatment. They are demanding justice, liberty, dignity, and the full respect of human rights,” declared the movement’s spokesperson.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to the May 16 mobilization, vowing that “the people of Chad will rise up to reject injustice, fear, and the erosion of their freedoms.”
