Chad’s former prime minister and opposition figurehead, Succès Masra, has been detained following violent clashes in the nation’s southwest that left at least 42 people dead, according to a public prosecutor. The arrest has reignited tensions in a country already grappling with political mistrust and deep ethnic divisions.
Masra, who is also the leader of the Transformers party, is accused of fomenting unrest through inflammatory posts on social media, allegedly contributing to Wednesday’s deadly confrontations in the village of Mandakao in the Logone Occidental province near the border with Cameroon.
“Messages were circulated, notably on social networks, calling on the population to arm themselves against other citizens,” said Public Prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye, outlining the basis of the charges against the opposition leader.
The violence reportedly erupted over a land dispute between local farmers from the Ngambaye community and Fulani herdsmen. Clashes between these two groups have become increasingly common in recent years, with farmers accusing herders of allowing cattle to graze on cultivated land.
While the exact trigger for the most recent episode remains unclear, authorities say more than 80 individuals have also been detained in connection with the unrest. The deadly confrontation has stirred anxieties about the nation’s volatile intercommunal tensions and the government’s capacity to manage such flare-ups without further political fallout.
Masra’s arrest has drawn fierce condemnation from his party, which denounced the move as unlawful. In a statement, the Transformers party alleged that Masra had been “kidnapped” by military personnel in the early hours, describing the arrest as “carried out outside of any known judicial procedure.”
Masra has long been a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. He notably disputed the results of last year’s presidential election, claiming that the vote had been “stolen from the people.” Official tallies showed Déby securing 61% of the vote.
Masra Accused Of Inciting Violence
Despite briefly serving as interim prime minister in Chad’s transitional government between January and May 2024, Masra’s political alignment with the current administration was always precarious. His party boycotted the December 2024 legislative elections, citing irregularities and lack of transparency — allegations that have become a recurring theme in Chad’s political landscape.
Chad’s ruling elite remains anchored by the Déby family dynasty, which has wielded power for more than 30 years. After long-time president Idriss Déby Itno was killed in 2021 by rebel forces, his son Mahamat Déby assumed control through military installation. The younger Déby has since presided over a four-year transitional period culminating in the adoption of a new constitution in late 2024.
Although the government boasts institutional reforms and the recent establishment of a Senate, critics argue that genuine democratic governance remains elusive. The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by President Déby, dominates both legislative chambers, holding 124 out of 188 seats in the National Assembly, following elections boycotted by major opposition factions.
Concerns about Chad’s political trajectory have mounted amid accusations of electoral manipulation, suppression of dissent, and the appointment of pro-government figures to key institutions. These developments have left little room for dissenting voices and sparked worries that the nation is backsliding into autocracy.
Observers also warn that Chad’s fragile security landscape, combined with persistent socio-economic inequalities and ethnic tensions, could ignite further unrest. The government has pledged reforms and a move toward decentralization, but trust among the public remains low.
International partners have called for increased respect for human rights and more inclusive political processes. For now, the arrest of Succès Masra marks another chapter in Chad’s ongoing struggle between centralised power and calls for democratic accountability.
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