The recent sentencing of leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP), a prominent coalition within Chad’s opposition, transcends a mere judicial ruling. It starkly reveals a more severe truth: a governing authority that systematically criminalizes its adversaries and deliberately constricts the nation’s democratic space.

Since the Conseil Militaire de Transition (CMT) assumed power in April 2021, Chad has experienced a steady and ongoing decline in political freedoms. This concerning trend is extensively chronicled by numerous national and international human rights organizations, all of whom report a significant contraction of civic liberties.

These organizations consistently highlight the escalating restrictions on fundamental freedoms…