A special court in Chad has acquitted Monodji Mbaidiguim Olivier, publication director of Le Pays and correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI), along with 15 other journalists, ordering their immediate release after months in detention.
Mbaidiguim had been held at the N’Djamena remand center since March 5 alongside Mahamat Saleh Hisseine and Ndilyam Alladoum, facing charges of interviewing foreign agents and allegedly sharing intelligence that could harm Chad’s military, diplomatic, or economic interests.
Despite earlier denial of their provisional release request on July 2 and a two-year prison sentence sought by the 9th deputy prosecutor, the special court ruled in favor of the journalists, ending their prolonged incarceration.
The case had drawn significant attention amid growing concerns over press freedom and judicial transparency in the country.
