Chad’s transitional President, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has appointed a former leading opposition figure, Succes Masra, as the country’s Prime Minister. This appointment is a significant development in Chad’s political landscape and marks a new chapter under the nation’s 5th Republic Constitution.
Succes Masra, who is the president of The Transformers party, had been a long-time opponent of the Deby dynasty. He returned to Chad in November after reaching a reconciliation agreement with the military leaders. This agreement was signed in Kinshasa on October 31 and guaranteed Masra free exercise of political activities, which facilitated his return from exile.
Back in N’Djamena for almost two weeks thanks to an agreement in principle signed on Tuesday October 31, 2023, the leader of the Transformers, Succès Masra, was received by the Chadian Head of State Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno on Monday November 20 2023.
Masra’s return and appointment come after Chad’s recent referendum on a new constitution, in which 86% of participants voted in favor. The approval of this new constitution is expected to pave the way for elections, moving Chad closer to transitioning to civilian rule. The general elections are scheduled to take place by November 2024, as part of the transitional government’s commitment to restore democratic governance.
The appointment of Masra as Prime Minister is particularly noteworthy considering his opposition to the military regime, especially after the October 20, 2022, protests against the regime’s decision to extend the transition period by two years. These protests led to a significant number of casualties, with authorities reporting around 50 deaths, while opposition and NGOs estimate the toll to be much higher.
