Former Chadian Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra called for forgiveness and national reconciliation in the early hours of Saturday, hours after being released from prison under a presidential pardon signed by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno. Masra, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison, addressed supporters at the headquarters of his party, The Transformers, in the capital N'Djamena, at around 1:50 am local time.

Masra's Message to Supporters

'With an open heart, we forgive all those who have wronged us. We must forgive,' Masra told the crowd, adding that he held no grudges. He also expressed readiness to engage with the government on national reforms, saying: 'We are ready to work with the President of the Republic.'

The address, delivered in the dead of night to jubilant supporters, struck a conciliatory tone — notable given Masra's history as a sharp critic of the transitional administration before his arrest.

The Presidential Pardon

President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno signed two decrees granting presidential pardons to nine political leaders and partial sentence reductions to other convicts across Chad, the presidency announced on Friday morning. The decision had initially been signalled by Mahamat Deby on 10 August, on the eve of Chad's Independence Day.

Among those pardoned alongside Masra were eight leaders of the Consultation Group of Political Actors, including party presidents and secretaries-general, who had submitted clemency requests to the head of state. Notably, while the pardons lift prison sentences, authorities confirmed that civil penalties remain enforceable — meaning Masra's court-ordered payment of 1 billion CFA francs (approximately $1.76 million US dollars) in damages stands.

Background: Masra's Arrest and Conviction

Masra, president of the opposition party The Transformers, had served as prime minister of Chad's transitional government from January to May 2024. He was arrested in May 2025 and subsequently sentenced in August 2025 on charges of 'inciting hatred and revolt' and complicity in murder.

His prosecution drew significant attention given his prior role in government, and critics argued it reflected the fragile and often contradictory nature of Chad's post-coup political transition. This is not the first time Chadian political actors have cycled between opposition, detention, and reconciliation under the Deby administration.

Deby's Call for National Unity

In his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, President Mahamat said: 'Chad has suffered too much from the horrors of war and division,' citing intercommunal conflicts 'that sow death and grief.' He stressed that the country's future depends on 'its ability to remain united and stand together' despite ongoing challenges.

The pardons are widely seen as a political gesture aimed at stabilising Chad's fragile transitional process ahead of a broader national dialogue. Whether Masra's release translates into a genuine political opening — or remains a symbolic act — will become clearer in the weeks ahead.