Chad - October 2023

The level of repression against opposition parties increased in Chad in October, two months ahead of a referendum on a new constitution that is scheduled to take place on 17 December. This month was also the first anniversary of a bloody crackdown on protests on 20 October 2022. In this context, 72 supporters of the opposition party the Transformers (Les Transformateurs) were arrested at a sports ground in Ndjamena, with the government claiming that they were participating in military training. The party claims they were preparing for an event to celebrate the return of party leader Succès Masra from exile in the United States. However, shortly after Masra informed the government of his planned return, a previously unknown warrant for his arrest that had been issued in June was leaked to the media. Masra then postponed his return to the country, citing the security situation.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Voice of America, Modern Ghana, Radio France Internationale, North Africa Post