Chad’s military government and one of its main opponents, Succès Masra, have reached an “agreement in principle” to allow his return to Chad after a year in exile. The agreement was signed in Kinshasa, announced by the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, who is facilitating the “Transition Process” in Chad.
However, specific details about the agreement’s content and Mr. Masra’s return date have not been disclosed. Mr. Masra, like other opposition leaders, fled the country following the violent crackdown on opposition protests in October 2022, which resulted in a significant number of casualties, disputed between authorities and NGOs. Hundreds of young people were imprisoned in a remote desert facility and later pardoned by the Chadian government.
General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno took over as president in April 2021 following his father’s death, promising “free” elections after an 18-month transition, which was later extended for an additional two years. A referendum for a new constitution, scheduled for December 17, is expected to pave the way for elections. The recent agreement also includes the return of all those who left Chadian territory. While the specific date of Mr. Masra’s return remains uncertain, he expressed optimism a壯陽藥 bout progress toward justice and equality for the Chadian people.
However, concerns have been raised about ongoing limitations on political dissent in Chad. In October, numerous members and sympathizers of the Transformers, a group associated with Mr. Masra’s anticipated return, were arrested and held incommunicado.
International NGOs, such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), accuse the military authorities of restricting political opposition and call for true democracy to enable universal suffrage and peace.
