Succès Masra, the junta-appointed Prime Minister of Chad, has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency, following in the footsteps of interim president Mahamat Déby, who declared his own bid a week earlier.
Succès Masra, a former opposition figure, solidified his position by signing a reconciliation pact with Déby upon his return from exile, leading to his appointment as prime minister in January. Addressing supporters at a rally on Sunday, Masra emphasised his intention to bring unity and healing to the nation.
However, the opposition has condemned Masra’s candidature, dismissing it as a tactic to create a facade of political diversity in an election widely expected to favour Déby.
Max Kemkoye, spokesperson for the opposition coalition GCAP, described Masra’s candidature as “a farce, a fake candidature to accompany the head of military power,” in comments made to the AFP news agency.
The political landscape was further shaken by the recent death of Déby’s main rival, opposition leader Yaya Dillo, who was killed in a clash with security forces on February 28. The government accused Dillo of orchestrating a deadly assault on the country’s security agency, a charge he vehemently denied. Dillo was anticipated to pose a significant challenge to Déby in the upcoming election.
Déby ascended to power following the demise of his father, who was slain by rebels after a reign spanning three decades. His leadership has been marked by ongoing political turbulence and opposition unrest.
