Chad's former Prime Minister and opposition figure, Succès Masra, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in recent violent clashes that occurred in the southwest region of the country. This troubling development follows the deaths of at least 42 people during unrest in Mandakao village, near the Cameroonian border.
Former Chad PM Succès Masra Arrested Amid Deadly Clashes
Former Chad PM Succès Masra Arrested Amid Deadly Clashes
Succès Masra, a prominent critic of President Déby, has been detained in connection with violent clashes that resulted in numerous fatalities.
Masra, who leads the Transformers party, was reportedly taken by military personnel early on Wednesday morning, prompting accusations of arbitrary detention without due legal process. He has previously contested the legitimacy of President Mahamat Déby's election victory, asserting that he himself was the rightful winner. Current reports indicate that Masra has been accused of inciting hatred through social media, which may have contributed to the violent altercations.
In the wake of the clashes, it has been suggested that disputes over land use between local communities—specifically the Ngambaye agriculturalists and Fulani herdsmen—may have sparked the recent violence, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region. Several other individuals have also been detained as part of the investigation into the conflict.
Masra briefly held the position of interim prime minister in Chad's transitional government in early 2024, but his party opted to boycott the preceding legislative elections, citing a lack of transparency in the electoral process. The Déby family has maintained a political grip on Chad for over thirty years, with Mahamat Déby assuming leadership after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021.
In the wake of the clashes, it has been suggested that disputes over land use between local communities—specifically the Ngambaye agriculturalists and Fulani herdsmen—may have sparked the recent violence, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region. Several other individuals have also been detained as part of the investigation into the conflict.
Masra briefly held the position of interim prime minister in Chad's transitional government in early 2024, but his party opted to boycott the preceding legislative elections, citing a lack of transparency in the electoral process. The Déby family has maintained a political grip on Chad for over thirty years, with Mahamat Déby assuming leadership after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021.
