The former prime minister of Chad Succes Masra was taken by security forces from his home on May 16th, according to a member of his party. The reason remains unclear, according to France 24 via Reuters.
Ndolembai Sade Njesada, vice president of the Transformers opposition party led by Masra, posted a video on Facebook showing uniformed and masked armed men taking Masra out of a residential building. A spokesperson for the government did not swiftly respond to a request for a statement.
Much like Chad’s neighbour Sudan, there are further concerns over the country’s declining democracy amid numerous challenges, including the legal proceedings against Masra. In Chad, authorities often prohibit protests and face accusations of limiting media companies’ freedom to report.
Masra emerged as a strong opponent of the junta led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby. Deby took power after the death of his father, the long-time President Idriss Deby, who died in 2021 while visiting troops battling militias in northern Chad.
In January last year, authorities appointed Masra as prime minister in an apparent effort to please the opposition. Four months later, Mahamat Idriss Deby claimed victory in the presidential election, with the state election body awarding him 61% of the vote.
Before the formal declaration of initial results, Masra claimed victory and claimed that electoral fraud was being organised. He resigned from his role as prime minister before Deby’s inauguration.
Chad became the first junta-led country in West and Central Africa to have elections after a wave of coups across the region in recent years.
France 24 via Reuters
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