Tchad: opposition voices systematically silenced, warns Alifa Younous Mahamat
Alifa Younous Mahamat, coordinator of the Parti Socialiste sans Frontières (PSF) in France and Europe, has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating political climate in Chad. Speaking during an interview on Africa Radio, he condemned the systematic suppression of dissent under the regime of Mahamat Idriss Déby.
political repression escalates with harsh prison sentences
Eight opposition leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), a key coalition opposing Mahamat Idriss Déby, were sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday in N’Djamena. The GCAP leaders were arrested days before a planned protest march, which authorities had banned. Alifa Younous Mahamat condemned the ruling as an egregious violation of justice designed to stifle opposition.
“This case exposes Chad’s deepening slide into dictatorship, where fear and repression enforce a single, state-imposed narrative,” he declared. “The judiciary is no longer independent—it has become an instrument of political control.”
systematic suppression of dissent undermines democracy
The PSF coordinator emphasized that the imprisonment of GCAP leaders is part of a broader strategy to neutralize credible opposition. “Every dissenting voice is systematically and completely extinguished,” he stated. “The regime has made it impossible for opposition parties to operate freely—whether in expressing dissent, organizing, or advocating for change.”
He highlighted the broader crackdown on fundamental freedoms, noting that “opposition parties cannot exercise their right to free speech, assemble, or even associate without fear of persecution”. This latest wave of repression follows the 20-year prison sentence handed to Succès Masra, a prominent opposition figure and former Prime Minister, nearly a year ago.
diaspora amplifies calls for international action
From exile in France and Europe, the Chadian diaspora is playing a critical role in drawing global attention to the crisis. “We are the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves,” Alifa Younous Mahamat explained. He has been actively engaging with international institutions and human rights organizations to pressure the regime and demand accountability.
“The international community must respond with urgency. Silence only emboldens oppressive regimes,” he asserted. His efforts include meetings with French politicians, particularly from La France Insoumise, where he met with Jean-Luc Mélenchon to highlight the situation in Chad.
chadian opposition in exile seeks global solidarity
The opposition’s strategy now hinges on international mobilization as a counterbalance to the regime’s tightening grip. While domestic repression intensifies, exiled leaders like Alifa Younous Mahamat are leveraging global platforms to expose human rights abuses and rally support.
“We will not rest until justice is served and democracy is restored in Chad,” he vowed. “The world must recognize that what is happening in Chad is not an internal matter—it is a crisis of democracy and human rights.”
