In a final judicial ruling, the Supreme Court in N’Djamena has dismissed the cassation appeal filed by the legal representatives of former Prime Minister Succès Masra. This verdict solidifies his 20-year prison term regarding the fatal unrest in Mandakao.

The legal battle for Succès Masra, the former Tchad head of government and leader of the Les Transformateurs party, has reached its conclusion within the national court system. On Thursday, May 21, the Supreme Court in N’Djamena rejected the final appeal submitted by his defense team, effectively closing all domestic avenues for legal recourse.

The former Prime Minister was originally sentenced last August by the Criminal Court. The charges against him included the dissemination of messages deemed racist and xenophobic, criminal association, and complicity in murder. Tchad authorities specifically pointed to a message shared in 2023, which was characterized as a catalyst for the violent intercommunal clashes that occurred in Mandakao during May 2025.

During the court proceedings, a heavy security presence was visible around the Supreme Court building. Military and police units established a strict perimeter, significantly restricting access to the area even though the hearing was technically open to the public.

With the exhaustion of national appeals, Succès Masra may now look toward regional or international judicial bodies. Throughout the process, his allies have maintained that the trial was politically motivated. Claudia Hoinathy, a senior official within the Les Transformateurs party, expressed the group’s stance by stating that they remain hopeful for a political resolution to the situation.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter