As Prime Minister, Succes Masra will get the practical experience and realities of governance. Photo courtesy
About a year ago,Dr Succes Masra was a marked man in Chad. The young opposition leader had fled the country, fearful for his life after a rally to challenged filial succession in his country in defiance of constitutional provisions had resulted in the death of over 50 people from the military. About a year later, Succes Masra is back in Chad appointed by the same military leadership that had a bounty on his head to serve as Prime Minister of the interim government.
Reactions within Chad have been mixed. For some, Succes Masra has just proven himself to be just another politician, motivated by greed and self-interest. For others, whatever template that Masra has used to change his political fortunes so soon should be replicated by other young Africans. In a sub region with some of the oldest leaders in the world, Chad has through twists and turns of sorts emerged with an interim President Mahamat Idriss Déby aged 39 and a Prime Minister aged 40 in Succes Masra.
For Succes Masra, a new dawn for Chad is what matters most. To leave a plum job at the African Development Bank and wade full scale into the complicated minefield of politics in Chad was gutsy. The Transformers political movement that he leads was launched in April 2018 following the late President Idriss Deby Itno’s changes to the Constitution to remain President of Chad for life. It quickly gained traction and morphed into a leading political opposition force in the country.
“The party’s vision is to transform the republic by establishing servant leadership at all levels to create the conditions of national unity and a land of justice, equality, and opportunity for all. This servant leadership must be established in a transparent republic, a state that gives a fair chance to all its children regardless of ethnicity, region, and beliefs,” Succes Masra told PAV in a January 2023 interview.
Fearful for his live after the October 2023 massacre, Succes Masra went into hiding and finally escaped to the United States. His arrival in the USA coincided with the holding of the USA-African Leaders Summit. While other military leaders across the continent were shunned, Chadian interim leader Mahamat Deby invited, something which did not sit well with Succes Masra.
Transitional President Mahamat Idris Deby and Prime Minister Succes Masra may faceoff in the presidential elections later in the year.Photo courtesy
“How can the United States help Africa “Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends” if it continues to provide military, financial assistance, and diplomatic prestige to the illegitimate and military junta in Chad and several most autocratic and rights-abusing regimes in Africa? Has the United States been influenced by the ambiguous position of France on this specific case of Chad,” Masra questioned in an op-ed.
Amongst the more visible changes that have since taken place in Chad are the recent constitutional referendum that is paving the way for a return to civilian rule through elections. The passage of the constitutional referendum also makes it possible for the current military ruler of the transitional government to run for elections. Still, few had imagined a rapprochement between Mahamat Deby and Succes Masra.
In October when he expressed readiness and interest to return to Chad, an arrest warrant issued in June 2023 but not made public surfaced. The warrant cited attempted attack on constitutional order, incitement to hatred, and insurrectional uprising, in the list of crimes attributed to Masra.
His return to Chad was in part facilitated by a reconciliation agreement signed in Kinshasa Congo on November 3. Abderaman Koulamallah, the Chadian minister of reconciliation, signed an agreement with Masra’s political party that paved the way for him and other opposition figures to return, according to a statement from Congolese presidential spokeswoman Tina Salama.
“In addition, the (regional bloc) ECAC’s facilitation mission, led by Félix Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Chadian people in easing the political climate with a view to the organization of democratic, free, transparent, and peaceful elections,” Salama said.
On his return to Chad, Succes Masra participated in the constitutional referendum and took positions that contrasted with those of some other opposition leaders. While some opposition leaders urged Chadians to vote No in the referendum, Masra went all out in calling on his followers and Chadians to vote yes. For him the adoption of the constitution was going to accelerate the end of the transition.
In announcing the new government, Mahamat Ahmat Alhabo, secretary-general of the presidency of said the new government was named after consultation with Succes Masra and was meant to ease the transition of Chad back to civilian rule.
Masra who has held massively attended rallies since his return to Chad, says the appointment will in no way impede his principled fight for reforms in Chad. He proposes to have a national dialogue with teachers who have been on strike since October over poor working conditions to return to class. Masra also wants to work towards improving the living conditions of Chadians and ease fuel shortages in the country. The new Prime Minister has also pledged to work closely with Deby to make sure the general amnesty granted to all civilians and military arrested during the protests of last October is fully enforced.
“Our party’s vision is to transform the republic by establishing servant leadership at all levels, to create the conditions of national unity, and a land of justice, equality, and opportunity for all. This servant leadership must be established in a transparent republic, a state that gives a fair chance to all its children regardless of ethnicity, region, and beliefs,” Dr Succes Masra told PAV last January.
Chad always ranks at the bottom of the global human development, competitiveness, and human capital index despite the young and productive population with enormous natural resources including oil, gold, livestock, and arable lands. Our struggle and political commitment are for the dignity of our people who deserve after 60 years of independence the right to their self-determination through democratic and fair elections to choose their leaders, he said.
Failing this transition in Chad could result in a more divided country like the situation in Sudan and South Sudan, Masra said back then. With him as Prime Minister and part of the transition, it remains to be seen what impact his presence will make. Cleared by the constitution to run for Presidential elections if he opts to, there is nothing at this point to indicate that Transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby will not be in the race. Will Succes Masra maintain the huge following that throngs to his rallies? Will the following transform to votes for him? Will the elections be free and fair? Will the fragments showing within the opposition work in favour of Mahamat Deby to continue with the Deby dynasty? These are more are some of the questions whose answers prime 2024 as a defining year for Chad.
