Call for clemency: RAJET urges President Déby to free detained opposition figures
The Chairman of the Rassemblement pour la Justice et l’Égalité au Tchad (RAJET), Ordjei Abderahim Chaha, has issued a bold appeal to President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, urging immediate clemency for imprisoned leaders from the former GCAP coalition and the Les Transformateurs party.
In a strongly worded open letter, the political leader argues that their continued detention « casts a bitter shadow » over Chad’s democratic progress and undermines public trust in the justice system. Chaha emphasizes that embracing opposition voices is not a sign of weakness but the hallmark of a mature democracy.
« The ability to tolerate opposition, even in its most defiant form, is the surest measure of political strength—and the cornerstone of a thriving liberal democracy, » he declares. For Chaha, opposition is not an obstacle but an essential ingredient, infusing the democratic process with vitality and safeguarding political freedoms.
He warns that stifling dissent risks extinguishing democracy entirely, leaving behind « cold embers of autocracy. » The opposition, he insists, is the lifeblood of governance, and the President’s legacy could be defined by his willingness to release all political prisoners and restore dialogue as a unifying force.
Chaha champions national dialogue as the path to reconciliation and development, asserting that incarcerated opposition figures remain open to constructive engagement. « True peace and progress emerge where dialogue flourishes, » he notes, urging an end to divisive rhetoric and baseless influence campaigns. He cautions against advisors who « fan the flames of discord » and cautions that false reports and manipulated briefs are « grave threats to the Republic. »
The RAJET leader closes with a resounding call for the immediate release of all detained opposition leaders, insisting that their freedom is essential for healing national wounds and fostering a future grounded in justice and unity.