Last week marked three months since the arrest of Olivier Monodji, editor of Le Pays and a correspondent for Radio France Internationale, and Mahamat Saleh Alhissein, a reporter with state broadcaster Télé Tchad. The journalists were detained in Chad along with other co-accused individuals. Prosecutors have alleged that the journalists colluded with the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization active in Central Africa and the Sahel region. They face charges of espionage, conspiracy, and endangering state security.
The case against them includes documents purportedly translated from French to Arabic by Alhissein and an article by Monodji on the opening of a Russian cultural center published in Le Pays. It appears that the journalists may have been targeted due to perceived links to the Wagner Group, whose activities in Chad are considered sensitive. In 2023, media reports suggested a plot by this group against the Chadian government. The group is known to support various armed factions in neighboring countries, and Human Rights Watch has reported on its involvement in authoritarian actions in the Central African Republic.
This week, after two months of investigation, a judge reclassified their charges under article 95 of Chad’s Penal Code. This relates to sharing intelligence with foreign agents and carries a sentence ranging from one to five years’ imprisonment. Despite dismissing more severe conspiracy and security charges, their detention was extended. This continued detention contravenes international human rights law that generally advises against pretrial detention without specific justification.
Leading up to the 2024 elections, there has been increased targeting of media outlets, civil society groups, and opposition voices by authorities. Media licenses have been revoked; reporting on political rallies banned; internet access restricted; media platforms suspended; and legal threats issued to suppress dissenting opinions. Succès Masra, former prime minister and leader of Chad’s main opposition party, has also been detained for nearly one month over allegations related to social media posts inciting hatred and violence.
Chad’s political climate has been unstable since former President Idriss Déby Itno’s death in 2021 initiated a transitional period fraught with violence and unrest. Just months before the 2024 elections, a major political opponent was killed during an attack in N’Djamena.
However, these circumstances do not justify prolonged detention without individualized evidence justifying necessity or lawful purpose. The Chadian government is urged to adhere to due process standards by ensuring that these journalists are released promptly and receive fair trials.
