On October 20, 2022, Chad was the scene of violent pro-democracy demonstrations which were repressed by the authorities. A year later, the opposition party Les Transformateurs, which took part in these demonstrations, believes that its members are victims of repression aimed at preventing them from returning to the political scene.
Despite the authorization to operate, the Transformateurs headquarters in Ndjamena remains closed. Party members are forced to operate underground. Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, national secretary of the Transformers, says even the posters and plaque from the headquarters were taken away and young people who were trying to clean the headquarters were prevented from doing so. He sees this as a deliberate attempt to prevent the Transformers from returning to the political scene.
The repression of the party does not stop there. Recently, 72 activists were arrested while training upon returning to Chad, but they remain detained without access to a lawyer. The Minister of Public Security, General Mahamat Charfadine Margui, justifies these arrests by asserting that the party is often at the origin of acts of vandalism and violence during its activities. However, he denies that any particular restrictions are imposed on the party.
Despite these difficulties, the Transformers party continues to carry out its activities, particularly online. For Tog-Yeum Nagorngar, being a Transformer is above all a question of state of mind, regardless of the obstacles encountered. The party remains determined to continue its fight for democracy and political change in Chad.
This article highlights the persistent obstacles facing opposition parties in Chad, particularly the Transformers. Despite the repression and the closure of their headquarters, the party remains committed to its fight for democracy.