Chad: After 100 days in detention, Kemkoye appeals to Déby

Chadian opposition figure Max Kemkoye issued an open letter to President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno on Monday to mark his 100th day in detention, condemning his prosecution as politically motivated and calling for immediate national dialogue to resolve the country’s deepening crisis.

Kemkoye served as spokesperson for the former Group of Political Actors for Consultation (GCAP), an opposition coalition dissolved by the Supreme Court ahead of a planned demonstration in early May 2026. Following his arrest on April 25 alongside fellow political leaders, Kemkoye was handed an eight-year prison sentence on May 8 for charges including armed assembly, rebellion, possession of military weapons, and criminal conspiracy—a conviction he appealed on May 14.

In his letter, the opposition leader firmly rejected all legal charges, asserting that GCAP was organizing a peaceful march to advocate for civil liberties rather than an armed uprising. He emphasized that because his judicial appeal remains pending, his conviction is not legally final. Kemkoye also pointed out that the simultaneous imprisonment of multiple opposition party heads is unprecedented in Chad’s political history, noting that six of nine convicted party leaders remain in detention—a trend he highlighted as evidence of shrinking political space.

Beyond his legal situation, Kemkoye criticized the government’s handling of socio-economic issues, citing systemic problems such as unreliable water and power supply, rising living costs, communal conflicts, and weak performance in human development and fiscal transparency. Invoking the well-known phrase of former President Idriss Déby Itno that “after me, there will be chaos,” he urged the president to build institutional legitimacy through political consensus rather than coercion. To address the country’s economic and political challenges, Kemkoye proposed holding national consultations, institutional reform conferences, and a collaborative forum bringing together domestic and diaspora experts. The Chadian presidency has not issued a public response to the letter.

CA/te/lb/abj/APA