Exiled opposition figure from Chad delays return home

Succes Masra, the head of Chad’s exiled pro-democracy opposition, claimed that the Transitional Military Council of Chad is increasingly endangering civil rights, making it difficult for him to return from exile on October 18 as planned.

Before his return, he demanded the release of hundreds of individuals who had been detained for participating in anti-military protests.

Masra, the leader of The Transformers, the largest opposition party in Chad, stated that the political and security climate in his nation is still hostile and that he will postpone his visit until November in order to protect people who were ready to welcome him upon arrival.

Masra claimed on Monday that he had requested President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to tell the Transitional Military Council in Chad to put an end to abuses of human rights, such as the arbitrary incarceration and torture of opponents.

After numerous civilians were killed during demonstrations against Chad’s military ruler Mahamat Idriss Deby in October 2022, the 11-member Economic Community of Central African States, or CEEAC, appointed Tshisekedi as a facilitator for the political transition process in Chad.

Marsa posted a message on Facebook and WhatsApp announcing his choice to postpone, and other Chadian media sites also carried the message.

Deby is openly showing his refusal to transfer power to civilian rule by November 2024, as decided during the debate, according to him, by breaking decisions of the August 2022 to October 2022 Inclusive and Sovereign National debate. Masra claimed that Deby shown his disdain for human rights by refusing to free several hundred citizens detained in October 2022 while they were protesting the military government of Chad.

Masra crossed the border from neighbouring Chad to the United States in October of last year. After the security forces of the country in central Africa killed 50, injured 300, and detained hundreds of pro-democracy protesters, he escaped.

Videos of thousands of fans getting ready to greet Masra were broadcast on state television in Chad for several weeks.

The central African nation’s government announced that Masra would arrive on October 18 and join opposition leaders, members of the military, civil society organisations, and government ministers in commemorative events marking the first anniversary of the Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue on October 20, 2023. On October 20 of last year, the discussion came to an end.

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Mahamat Ali, a 32-year-old secondary school teacher, is a Masra fan. He asserted that the military junta’s development of Chad and preparations for the return to constitutional rule in 2024 should have prompted many terrified civilians to demonstrate in towns and villages across Chad. They should have demanded that the military junta honour its commitments to provide water, electricity, and good roads.

A meaningful national dialogue, according to the exiled pro-democracy opposition leader, will take place in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, from October 18 to 20. On his Facebook page and on a number of radio and television stations in Chad, he disseminated his message. While he did not provide specifics on how the debate would be structured, he did say that it would demonstrate how unpopular the military administration of Chad has grown since Mahamant Idriss Deby succeeded his father Idris Deby Itno on April 21, 2021, as well as how it has continued to act with impunity and in defiance of democratic standards.

The military government Deby heads has been praised for giving access to drinkable water, building and equipping hospitals and primary schools, and dissolving numerous armed organisations in order to bring about a gradual restoration to peace in Chad. Last week, Deby declared he was preparing a return to democratic rule.

Deby urged the leaders of the opposition, rights organisations, and unhappy citizens to help the military government in fostering peace in order to usher in a restoration to democratic rule.

It will be difficult to win back trust.

According to a 2022 report by the human rights organisation Amnesty International, Chad’s regional and international allies, including the United States, France, Germany, Qatar, and organisations like the European Union, African Union, and Economic Community of Central African States, or ECCAS, will need to exert significant international pressure on the country to put an end to violations and move towards democratic governance.