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A Chadian High Court in N’Djamena sentenced eight opposition leaders to eight years in prison on Friday after finding them guilty of convictions that included insurrection, the Associated Press reported. The court also imposed a fine of 500,000 Central African francs (about $897) on each of the defendants, according to the report.
The High Court’s ruling came after the leaders were arrested last month. Prosecutors had sought 10-year sentences for each member of the group, the Associated Press said.
The defendants were leaders of the coalition opposition group Political Actors Consultation Group, known as GCAP. The AP reported that the High Court found the group’s leaders guilty on offenses that included rebellion and disturbing public order.
The Associated Press described GCAP as an opposition coalition that repeatedly criticized President Mahamat Idriss Deby and called for a boycott of the 2024 election. It said Chad’s Supreme Court dissolved GCAP in April.
After the Supreme Court’s dissolution of GCAP, other opposition figures have continued to face detention and prison terms, the Associated Press reported. It said Succes Masra, a former prime minister, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in October.
Defense lawyers’ representative Adoum Moussa said the court’s decision was not supported by the facts alleged in the case. “We are not only surprised but disappointed by this court decision, which was based on non-existent offenses,” Moussa said, according to the Associated Press.