Chad military leaders appoint former opponent PM

N´DJAMENA: Chad´s transitional president General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on Monday appointed one of his leading opponents, who recently returned from exile, as prime minister.

Succes Masra, president of The Transformers party, was a virulent opponent of the regime, which came to power in 2021 after the death of Idriss Deby Itno who led the country with an iron fist for 30 years.

Masra returned to Chad in November after reaching an agreement with the military leaders.

“Doctor Succes Masra is appointed prime minister, head of the transition government,” general secretary to the presidency Mahamat Ahmat Alabo announced on state TV.

Days before a referendum last month on a new constitution -- which saw 86 percent of participants vote “yes” -- Masra publicly urged supporters to vote in favour, with the outcome now expected to pave the way to elections.

He had argued that its adoption would accelerate the end of the transition, while the rest of the divided opposition urged Chadians to vote “no” or to boycott the December 17 referendum.

Eric Arsene, 35, a supporter of Masra´s party, said he was pleased about the new appointment.

It will help to “redress the political and economic situation of the country,” he said.

Masra went into exile shortly after October 20, 2022 protests against the military regime, which had just extended by two years an 18-month transition supposed to culminate in elections and the return of power to a civilian government. —2022 protest which has become known as Black Thursday.