Chad’s prosecutor has launched a criminal investigation into former Prime Minister Succes Masra following deadly violence this week.
Masra was arrested at his residence early Friday by judicial police on charges including incitement to hatred, complicity in murder, and desecration of graves.
Prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye said Masra is suspected of inciting violence in Logone Occidental, where 42 people, mostly women and children, were killed.
He claimed Masra’s alleged involvement stirred ethnic tensions, with social media messages reportedly urging citizens to arm themselves.
Footage posted online by Masra’s party shows armed men in uniform escorting him from a home, prompting accusations of abduction.
Transformateurs party member Sitack Yombatina dismissed the charges, blaming the government’s failure to manage long-simmering community conflicts.
No immediate comment came from government officials regarding the arrest or the unfolding investigation.
Masra briefly served as prime minister in early 2024 before resigning, alleging electoral fraud ahead of a May vote.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby won the election with 61% of the vote, amid criticism over fairness and democratic decline.
Masra had previously positioned himself as a vocal critic of Deby’s military-led rule following his father’s death in 2021.
Chad’s move to prosecute Masra has reignited fears about political repression and shrinking civic space under the current regime.
The country, which held the region’s first post-coup election, continues to face scrutiny over its democratic transition.
Masra’s legal battle could mark a new chapter in Chad’s turbulent politics, where opposition voices often face silencing.
Observers warn the case may deepen tensions in a nation still grappling with the aftermath of repeated power struggles.
Will this investigation ensure justice—or entrench authoritarian control masked by democratic façades?