Chad's president pardons main rival and opposition leader in jail

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August 14, 2026 7:47 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: Chad's President General Mahamat Idriss Deby arrives before a dinner with several heads of state and government and leaders of international organisations at the Elysee Palace, as part of the 19th Francophonie Summit, in Paris, France, October

(Corrects the spelling ‌of the ​name ​in paragraph 1 from Success Masra to Succes Masra)

N'DJAMENA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Chad's presidency ‌said in a statement that President Mahamat ⁠Idriss Deby has pardoned his main rival and opposition leader ‌Succes Masra, who has ‌been in jail for more than a year for inciting violence and complicity to murder.

• ​Masra, a former prime minister, was sentenced to 20 years and fined 1 billion CFA ⁠francs ($1.77 million) last year in a trial that was criticized by ​human rights activists as politically motivated.

• Masra will be released in the coming ​days, the statement said, after ‌the presidency agreed to a request for a pardon submitted by his attorneys.

• ⁠Masra was internationally recognized as the most vocal figure in the opposition. He will be freed along ⁠with eight other political figures, the statement said.

• "These nine individuals ​will be released as soon as the Ministry of Justice makes the necessary arrangements in the coming hours ‌and days," the presidency said.

• "They have been pardoned by the Head of State. ‌However, the pardon does not waive the civil ⁠penalties, which remain ‌enforceable."

($1 = 565.7500 CFA ​francs)

(Reporting by Chad newsroom, Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Jessica Donati and Chizu ‌Nomiyama)


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