Arrest of Chad's Former PM Criticizes Deepening Political Tensions

Chad's former Prime Minister Succès Masra has been arrested over purported involvement in recent violent clashes that resulted in numerous fatalities. His party claims the arrest was unlawful, while tensions rise in the politically charged landscape.

Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader, Succès Masra, has been apprehended following accusations of inciting violence related to deadly clashes in the southwestern region of the country on Wednesday. Public prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye stated that Masra is suspected of disseminating inflammatory messages via social media, contributing to the unrest that has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 42 individuals.

The Transformers party, led by Masra, has condemned the arrest as a "kidnapping" executed by military personnel in the early hours and claimed it lacked any established judicial basis. Masra, a vocal adversary of President Mahamat Déby, has previously asserted that he rightfully triumphed in last year’s elections, despite official results indicating Déby secured a 61% majority.

The recent violence erupted in Mandakao village, located in Logone Occidental province, near the Cameroonian border. Reports indicate that social media messages incited local residents to arm themselves against one another, intensifying the already fraught situation. The origins of the clash are still uncertain, though some sources suggest it may have stemmed from land disputes involving Ngambaye farmers and Fulani herdsmen, a conflict exacerbated by long-standing grievances over land use.

In addition to Masra, over 80 other individuals have been detained in relation to the violence. Masra briefly held the role of interim prime minister in the transitional government from January to May 2024 and previously led his party to boycott legislative elections last December, citing concerns over electoral integrity.

Chad has been under the rule of the Déby family for over thirty years, with Mahamat Déby taking power after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021 amid a rebel assault. The political climate continues to grow contentious as tensions between the government and opposition mount.