Former Chadian Prime Minister arrested on suspicion of connection to the deadly conflict

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Former Chadian Prime Minister arrested on suspicion of connection to the deadly conflict

Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader Succès Masra was arrested on suspicion of links to the conflict that took place in the southwestern part of the country on Wednesday, a prosecutor said.

Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye said he was alleged to spread hateful information on social media related to violence that killed at least 42 people.

Masla's Transformers said he was “kidnapping” by military officers early in the morning and condemned his detention, saying it was “except for any known judicial process.”

Masra is a fierce critic of President Mahamat Déby and claims to have defeated him in last year's election.

Masla said his victory was “stolen from the people”, despite official results saying Debbie won with 61% of the vote.

Wednesday's conflict broke out in the village of Mandako in the western province of Lorne near the Cameroon border.

“The information is spread on social networks and calls on the people to arm other citizens,” Cadelay said.

It is not clear what caused the violence, but a source told AFP it was believed to be a result of a land dispute between the Ngambaye community and Fulani Herdsmen.

There has been a recent unsettling pattern of violence between local farmers and herders, who accused the latter of having a large number of herding animals on the land.

More than 80 other conflict-related conflicts were also detained.

Masla briefly served as interim prime minister of the transitional government between January and May 2024.

His party boycotted legislative polls due to concerns about transparency in the election process.

The Debbie family ruled Chad for more than thirty years.

Military leader Déby as Chad's leader in 2021 after his father Idriss Déby Itno was killed by rebels.

Other reports by Chris Ewokor