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Chad Opposition Leader Succès Masra Sentenced to 20 Years for Mandakao Massacre

His conviction has prompted street protests in N’Djamena.

Overview

  • The tribunal de grande instance de N’Djamena found Masra guilty of hate speech and complicity in the May 14 Mandakao massacre that killed 42 civilians, mostly women and children.
  • Judges imposed a 20-year prison term and ordered him to pay a one-billion-CFA fine (about €1.5 million).
  • Masra was arrested on May 16 and denied provisional release during a bifurcated trial that also prosecuted roughly 70 other defendants for direct involvement in the massacre.
  • Defense lawyers led by Francis Kadjilembaye condemned the verdict as based on suppositions and lacking concrete evidence.
  • Les Transformateurs named former finance minister Bedoumra Kordjé as interim leader as party supporters rallied in protest in N’Djamena.