Chad’s prosecutor has launched an investigation into former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Succes Masra. Masra was arrested at his home on Friday by the judicial police, according to prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye. He is being investigated for alleged involvement in a clash that resulted in the deaths of 42 people. The charges against Masra include incitement to hatred and revolt, complicity in murder, and the desecration of graves.
A member of Masra’s Transformateurs party, Sitack Yombatina, dismissed these charges as baseless. Yombatina stated that Masra, who briefly led the country in early 2024, cannot be held responsible for the government’s failure to control inter-community conflicts. Another party member, Ndolembai Sade Njesada, had earlier reported Masra’s alleged abduction by security forces. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show armed men escorting Masra from a building.
The prosecutor’s statement indicated that investigations by the judicial police point to Masra’s involvement in the deadly clash in Logone Occidental province. The prosecutor alleged that Masra’s actions incited the population against a specific community within the locality. Messages, particularly on social media, reportedly urged citizens to arm themselves against others.
Masra has been a vocal opponent of the junta led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who took power in 2021. Legal proceedings against Masra are likely to heighten concerns about the shrinking democratic space in Chad. The government has frequently been accused of banning demonstrations and restricting the operations of media organizations.
Masra’s appointment as prime minister in January 2024 was seen as an attempt to appease the opposition before the election. Mahamat Idriss Deby ultimately won the election with 61% of the vote, according to the state election body. Masra had claimed victory before the official results and alleged electoral fraud. He resigned as prime minister before Deby’s swearing-in. Chad was the first of the junta-led states in its region to hold elections following recent coups.
