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July 09, 2025 – Chad –
A special criminal court in N’Djamena has acquitted four Chadian journalists after facing serious charges of conspiring with Russia’s Wagner Group. The ruling, delivered on July 8, 2025, ends months of legal uncertainty and detention for three of the reporters, who had been held in custody since March.
The accused—Olivier Monodji, director of the private daily Le Pays and a correspondent for Radio France Internationale; Ndilyam Guekidata, editor at Le Pays; Mahamat Saleh Alhissein of Télé Tchad; and Ahmat Ali Adji of Toumaï Web Médias were charged with “undermining the constitutional order” and “conspiring with a foreign power.” The accusations stemmed from claims that they had shared confidential national security and economic information with Wagner, Russia’s notorious mercenary group. The charges were based on anonymous tips and documents that prosecutors claimed tied the journalists to Russian intelligence efforts in Chad.
Despite the prosecution’s call for two-year prison sentences, the court found the evidence insufficient and declared all four not guilty. The ruling was met with relief by press freedom organizations and legal defense teams, who had denounced the proceedings as politically motivated and lacking transparency. Defense lawyers argued that the arrests were designed to intimidate the media and suppress critical reporting amid Chad’s shifting alliances from France to Russia.
International observers say the case reflects a broader pattern of authoritarianism and repression in Chad. The country, governed by a military-led transitional regime since the death of President Idriss Déby in 2021, has increasingly cracked down on journalists and opposition voices. Several media outlets have faced license suspensions, internet shutdowns, and harassment during politically sensitive periods.
The arrests also occurred against the backdrop of growing Russian influence in the Sahel. As Chad deepens ties with Moscow, including alleged cooperation with Wagner-linked operatives, the government has shown less tolerance for perceived dissent or foreign scrutiny.
While the court’s decision marks a rare legal victory for press freedom in Chad, it also highlights the fragility of journalistic independence in a region where foreign entanglements and authoritarian governance increasingly endanger the free flow of information.
Reference –
https://newscentral.africa/four-chadian-journalists-acquitted-of-conspiring-with-russia/
