In Chad, opposition leader Max Kemkoye denounces the instrumentalization of justice following his pardon

One month after his release from prison, Chadian opposition figure Max Kemkoye has broken his silence. The president of the Union of Democrats for Development and Progress (UDP) and spokesperson for the Consultation Group of Political Actors (GCAP) spoke to the press at his party's headquarters in N'Djamena, according to information reported by RFI. He is directly calling on the head of state to demand an end to the abuses within the Chadian judicial system.

The opposition leader firmly denounces corruption and the use of the judicial apparatus as a tool for settling political scores. According to the media outlet RFI, Max Kemkoye believes that the judicial institution has lost its function as a guarantor of fundamental freedoms and citizens' rights, having been reduced to arbitrarily penalizing individuals targeted by those in power.

Arrested at the end of April before a banned demonstration, Max Kemkoye was sentenced in May to eight years in prison for "criminal conspiracy" and "insurrectional movement." He and seven other GCAP officials, who were also accused of rebellion and possession of weapons of war, recently received a presidential pardon following their convictions.

Despite his own release, the UDP leader highlights the plight of many people he considers innocent who remain incarcerated. He specifically cites those deported from Mandakao who were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment, religious leaders detained for over a year, and civil servants who have been victims of wrongful association. For the opposition leader, the absence of impartial magistrates constitutes a direct threat to the stability of the Republic.

Our perspective

Freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary are inseparable pillars of the sovereignty and dignity of African peoples. The use of judicial institutions for the purpose of political repression weakens democracy and citizen trust. Africa needs strong rule-of-law states where every citizen benefits from equitable and impartial protection.