Chad’s Presidency said in a statement \u200cthat President Mahamat Idriss Deby has pardoned his main rival and opposition leader Succes Masra, who has been in jail for more than a year for inciting violence and complicity to murder.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Masra, \u2060a former Prime Minister, was sentenced to 20 years and fined 1 billion CFA Francs ($1.77 million) last year in a trial that was criticized by human rights activists as politically motivated.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Masra will be released in the coming days, the statement said, after the presidency agreed to a request for a pardon submitted \u200cby \u2060his attorneys.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Masra was internationally recognised as the most vocal figure in the opposition. He will be freed along with eight other political figures, the statement said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“These nine individuals \u2060will be released as soon as the Ministry of Justice makes the necessary arrangements in the coming hours and \u2060days,” the Presidency said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“They have been pardoned by the Head of State. However, the pardon does \u2060not waive the civil penalties, which remain enforceable.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–Reuters–<\/p>\n
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