Wakit Tama urges Chad popular protest against authoritarian drift
With a peaceful nationwide mobilization scheduled for May 16, 2026, the political wing of the Wakit Tama movement held a press conference to condemn what it describes as the Chadian government’s authoritarian drift under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.
Journalists as guardians of truth under pressure
During the briefing, the movement praised the dedication of Chadian journalists, acknowledging their role as “a bulwark against oblivion and deception,” despite facing what Wakit Tama calls “systematic pressures, intimidation, and repression.”
Highlighting political crisis and judicial concerns
The movement’s spokesperson, Abdelazim Mht Abakar, emphasized that the press conference aimed to draw attention to the gravity of Chad’s ongoing political crisis and its implications for national and international observers.
Wakit Tama strongly criticized the recent eight-year prison sentences handed down to eight political leaders from the GCAP coalition, calling the verdicts “outrageous” and accusing the Chadian judiciary of becoming “a tool of the executive.”
The movement renewed its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Succès Masra and other detained activists.
International silence amid human rights violations
“The silence of human rights organizations and several international partners regarding alleged violations of fundamental freedoms in Chad is deeply troubling,” the movement stated, calling on global actors to uphold their commitments to justice and dignity.
Uniting for justice and freedom
In closing, Wakit Tama reaffirmed its call for mass mobilization on May 16, declaring: “The Chadian people seek neither favors nor privileges. We demand justice, freedom, dignity, and the respect of human rights. Above all, we refuse to live in fear or accept the confiscation of our liberties.”
“This is our moment to make our voices heard against injustice and oppression,” the spokesperson concluded.