After a year of incarceration, Fatimé Boukar Kosseï, the former minister and member of Chad's civil society, has released a message to her loved ones and fellow citizens. In her letter, she shares the challenges she faced during her detention, her mother's illness, and the accusations brought against her. She calls for peace, fraternity, and human solidarity. From her cell, which she describes as "a school of life," Fatimé Boukar Kosseï has chosen to speak out and share the lessons she learned during her year-long imprisonment.
In her message, Fatimé Boukar Kosseï expresses her gratitude to Allah, whom she credits with giving her the strength to continue on her path despite doubts, loneliness, and uncertainty. She also pays tribute to her late father, wishing his soul to rest in peace. The former minister addresses her compatriots, acknowledging that her imprisonment has been marked by divergent views on her conviction. She writes, "I am not writing to fuel this controversy or seek your compassion, but to share what this year has taught me."
Fatimé Boukar Kosseï describes her detention as an experience that has allowed her to measure the value of her actions, words, and human relationships. She notes that the behavior of those around her changed in the face of adversity, with some distancing themselves while others, sometimes unexpectedly, showed their support. Without accusing anyone, she believes that this period has given her a better understanding of the limitations and struggles of those around her.
In addition to her personal struggles, Fatimé Boukar Kosseï faces the pain of her mother's serious health issues. According to her testimony, her mother experienced severe complications and was in a coma for several months. The inability to be with her mother, hold her hand, or simply talk to her has been a "deep suffering" for the former minister. She describes this situation as the helplessness of a daughter facing her mother's illness, exacerbated by the circumstances that prevent her from being with her family.
Fatimé Boukar Kosseï also addresses the accusations of embezzlement of billions in kind brought against her. She questions the consistency of these accusations with her current inability to provide her mother with the necessary care. However, she clarifies that these accusations are a matter for the courts and affirms that she will let justice follow its course, while also entrusting herself to divine justice.
Despite the difficulties, Fatimé Boukar Kosseï wishes to express her gratitude to a person who, according to her, has provided valuable support to her family and contributed to facilitating her mother's medical evacuation. She also thanks her lawyers and all those who have inquired about her, shown her affection, or mobilized on behalf of her loved ones. She aims to go through this ordeal without letting bitterness define her identity.
On the occasion of her anniversary, Fatimé Boukar Kosseï invites her compatriots to pray for Chad, so that peace, justice, and fraternity guide the actions of each individual. She also sends her thoughts to families and sick people, as well as to their loved ones faced with worry and a sense of helplessness. The former minister was sentenced to 10 years in prison and has had her lawyers appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Key points
- Former Chad minister Fatimé Boukar Kosseï shares her experiences and lessons learned after a year in prison.
- She addresses her supporters and compatriots, calling for peace, fraternity, and human solidarity.
- Fatimé Boukar Kosseï was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of embezzlement.
