Chad’s former prime minister, Succes Masra, was arrested on Friday for allegedly inciting hatred that resulted in the deaths of dozens earlier this week.While Masra’s party said he was “kidnapped” by the judicial police on Friday morning, public prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye said that Chad’s former premier was being investigated on charges that included incitement of hatred and revolt, complicity in murder and the desecration of graves.What else did the prosecutor say about Masra’s arrest?The prosecutor said investigations by the judicial police pointed to Masra’s involvement in a clash that killed 42 people on Wednesday in the southwest province of Logone Occidental, mostly women and children.“This alleged involvement incited the population against a community residing in the same locality. Messages were circulated, notably on social networks, calling on the population to arm themselves against other citizens,” the prosecutor said.Meanwhile, Masra’s opposition Transformers party said in a statement that their leader was “kidnapped” in his residence and expressed “deep concern over this brutal action carried out outside any known judicial procedures and in blatant violation of the civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution.”What is the political crisis in Chad?In 2022, Masra went into exile after the military government suspended his party and six others in a clampdown on civil unrest over President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s decision to extend his rule by two more years. More than 60 people were killed in the unrest, which the government said was as “an attempted coup.”Following his return to Chad, Masra was appointed prime minister in January 2024 in an effort to appease the opposition, four months before the presidential election.Masra, who served as Chad prime minister from January to May 2024, faced off against Deby in presidential elections a year ago.One of Deby’s most vociferous opponents, he won 18.5% of the vote while the incumbent secured 61.3%.But Masra cried foul, alleging electoral fraud.While Muslims are predominant in the vast Sahara desert and the arid Sahel region in Chad’s north and center, the far south of the country is largely Christian and animist. Masra belongs to the Ngambay subgroup of the Sara people who traditionally inhabit southern Chad and among whom the former prime minister enjoys widespread support.
