2024-01-03 20:20:11
Surprise in Chad. The now ex-opponent Succès Masra was appointed prime minister on Monday January 1. The day before, in his end of year wishes, the head of the transitional military regime, Mahamat Idriss Déby, had expressed his desire to“be more inclusive”. The leader of the opposition party Les Transformateurs succeeds another historic opponent, Saleh Kebzabo, who resigned after organizing the referendum desired by the president to reform the Constitution. This reform, which was approved by 85.9% of voters, sets up a unitary and semi-presidential Fifth Republic.
The appointment of Succès Masra is all the more surprising given that he recently denounced the “thirty-five years of monarchy” in Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby having succeeded his father, who died suddenly in 2021 after more than thirty years of reign. The opponent had thus called, on October 20, 2022, the population to mobilize against the two-year extension of Mahamat Idriss Déby as president of the transition. A demonstration very violently repressed: that day, several dozen people lost their lives, according to the United Nations.
Shortly after, the opponent fled his country for an unknown destination. Before returning a year later following a reconciliation agreement with the head of the junta. An agreement also pronouncing “general amnesty” for those responsible for the murders of demonstrators on the deadly day of October 20 called “Black Thursday”. «A real betrayal for his comrades in arms”, estimates Yamingué Bétinbaye, doctor of political science specializing in Chad.
Masra success, which initially promoted a ” neither yes nor no “ during the referendum campaign, ended up inviting his party’s members to vote “yes”. A rally that paid off: at the head of the government, he is now responsible for continuing the democratic transition process supposed to end before October 2024. The sovereign ministries of his new government are nonetheless still held by close to the old regime, leaving it little room for maneuver. «This is a big victory for the president, he had promised to organize a reconciliation between the political parties, and until then Success Masra was the only one to stay away from the process », notes Yamingué Bétinbaye.
“The person who will prepare the election of Mahamat Idriss Déby”
According to the African Charter for Democracy, members of a transitional government cannot stand for election. But Mahamat Idriss Déby does seem to be preparing for a campaign at the head of a new political formation, while continuing to benefit from the support of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), his father’s former party. «Success Masra implicitly accepts that Déby is running in 2024 because he too wants to be able to remain eligible for positions of power,” analyzes Yamingué Bétinbaye. “He is the person who will prepare the election of Mahamat Idriss Déby whom he fought yesterday,” denounces on RFI Max Kemkoye, from the consultation group of political actors (GCAP).
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