Ottawa, Jan 1 (FN Agency) Succes Masra, the leader of Chad’s Les Transformateurs (The Transformers) political party and formerly an opposition leader, has been appointed prime minister of the transitional period by a decree signed by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby on Monday. In late December, ex-Chadian Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo submitted his resignation as part of the country’s standard procedure following the adoption of a new constitution. The day prior, Chad’s supreme court approved the results of a referendum, organised by the ruling military junta, with 85% of Chadians voting in favor of the new constitution.
“Dr. Succes Masra has been appointed prime minister, head of the transition period,” the decree read. Masra fled Chad in October 2022, a few days after organizing protests against military rule. He announced his plans to return to the country in August 2023 and arrived in Chad in November after signing an agreement with the Chadian government. In April 2021, Idriss Deby Itno, who had been Chad’s president for decades, died after being critically wounded in counter-insurgency actions in the north of the country. After that, the army in Chad dissolved the parliament and the government and established a transitional military council to rule the country. Mahamat Idriss Deby, the 37-year-old son of the deceased president, headed the council. On October 8, 2022, the transitional council was dissolved and Mahamat Idriss Deby was declared the interim president.