**Chad's Former Prime Minister Detained Amid Violent Clashes**

**In a significant escalation of political tensions, Succès Masra, former Prime Minister of Chad, was arrested following violence that left over 40 dead. His detention, described by his party as a military "kidnapping," raises concerns about rising political repression in the nation.**

Chad's political landscape has plunged into further chaos as former Prime Minister Succès Masra was detained on accusations of inciting violence linked to deadly clashes in the southern region of Logone Occidental. Public prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye confirmed that Masra is suspected of disseminating inflammatory messages via social media that may have contributed to unrest, which has claimed at least 42 lives.

Masra's political party, the Transformers, rebuffed the arrest as an illegal "kidnapping" perpetrated by military personnel in the early morning hours, asserting that his detention lacked any transparent judicial basis. A vocal critic of President Mahamat Déby, Masra alleged he interrupted the status quo by challenging last year's election results, claiming the presidency was unjustly secured with 61% of the votes in Déby’s favor.

The violent incidents reportedly erupted in Mandakao village, close to the Cameroonian border, where tensions, thought to stem from disputes between local farmers and Fulani herdsmen, exploded into conflict. Kedelaye mentioned that social media sparked calls for civilians to arm themselves, although the explicit reasons for the clashes are still emerging, with speculation surrounding agricultural disputes.

Alongside Masra, over 80 individuals have been apprehended due to their alleged involvement in the clashes. Masra briefly stepped in as interim Prime Minister during a transitional phase from January to May 2024, and had previously orchestrated a boycott of legislative elections in December, citing concerns about their fairness.

Chad has been under the thumb of the Déby dynasty for over 30 years, with President Déby leading the charge since the passing of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, due to rebel confrontations in 2021. The turmoil in Chad calls for increased international scrutiny amid fears of escalating violence and political oppression.