Chad’s former Prime Minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was abducted by security forces from his home on Friday morning, according to a member of his party. The reason behind his detention is not yet clear.
A Facebook post by Ndolembai Sade Njesada, vice president of the Transformers opposition party headed by Masra, showed footage of uniformed armed men escorting Masra out of a residential building.
The government spokesperson has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Masra, a staunch opponent of the junta headed by President Mahamat Idriss Deby, was appointed prime minister in January 2024 in a bid to appease the opposition.
However, he resigned before Deby was sworn in after claiming victory and alleging electoral fraud in the presidential election, which Deby won with 61% of the vote.
This incident raises concerns about shrinking democratic space in Chad, where the government frequently bans demonstrations and restricts media organizations’ ability to operate.
