Succès Masra, Opposition Leader in Chad, Is Arrested and Accused of Inciting Violence
Succès Masra, a former prime minister and prominent opposition leader in Chad, was arrested on May 16, 2025, in connection with a violent clash between herders and farmers in the Logone Occidental province. The incident resulted in 42 deaths and the destruction of several homes. Authorities have charged Masra with inciting hatred and revolt via social media, alleging that he encouraged people to arm themselves. Additional charges include complicity in murder, armed group activities, grave desecration, and arson. (apnews.com)
Masra’s political party, Les Transformateurs, condemned his arrest as a “kidnapping” conducted without legal procedure, sharing video footage of uniformed men detaining him. The party has been a vocal critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who assumed power after his father’s death in 2021. Masra previously fled the country during a crackdown on protests in 2022, later returned, and was appointed prime minister in 2024 in an effort to defuse political tensions. He resigned following contested election results in which Déby claimed victory amid fraud allegations from the opposition. (apnews.com)
This arrest is part of a broader pattern of the Chadian government’s use of security forces and the judiciary to suppress opposition. In October 2022, security forces used excessive force to disperse opposition-led demonstrations, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. Hundreds of protesters were arrested and detained in high-security prisons, with reports of ill-treatment and deaths in custody. (hrw.org)
The government’s actions have raised serious concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in Chad. International organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called for independent investigations into these incidents and urged the Chadian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. (hrw.org, amnesty.org)
As Chad continues to grapple with political unrest and calls for democratic reforms, the international community remains vigilant, advocating for the protection of human rights and the establishment of a more inclusive and transparent political system.