Chad’s former Prime Minister Succès Masra was arrested on Friday for allegedly inciting hatred linked to clashes that left at least 42 people dead earlier this week, according to the public prosecutor.
Public Prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye said Masra is under investigation for charges including incitement of hatred and revolt, complicity in murder, and desecration of graves. The violence erupted on Wednesday in the southwestern province of Logone Occidental, near the Cameroonian border, with most victims reported to be women and children.
"Investigations indicate that Masra’s alleged involvement incited the population against another community in the area. Messages circulated on social media called on people to arm themselves against fellow citizens," Kedelaye stated.
However, Masra’s opposition party, Transformers, denounced his arrest as a "kidnapping" and accused authorities of violating due process. In a statement, the party expressed "deep concern over this brutal action, carried out outside any known judicial procedures and in blatant violation of constitutional rights."
Masra, a prominent critic of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, returned from exile in 2023 after fleeing a government crackdown on protests against Déby’s extended rule. He was appointed prime minister in January 2024 in a bid to reconcile with the opposition but served only four months before resigning ahead of presidential elections.
In last year’s vote, Masra won 18.5% of the vote, while Déby secured 61.3%. Masra rejected the results, alleging fraud. His party later boycotted legislative elections, citing transparency concerns.
The recent violence in Logone Occidental is believed to have stemmed from a land dispute between Ngambaye farmers and Fulani herders—a recurring source of conflict in the region. Authorities have detained over 80 others in connection with the clashes.
Chad has been under the Déby family’s rule for over three decades. The current president took power in 2021 after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed by rebels. The government has faced persistent opposition, with Masra emerging as one of its most vocal critics.
The case has drawn renewed scrutiny to Chad’s political stability and the government’s handling of dissent as tensions persist between the ruling elite and opposition forces.