Chad's Masra launches presidential campaign as rival alleges collaboration with Deby

Record ID: 1819347

  • Title: Chad's Masra launches presidential campaign as rival alleges collaboration with Deby
  • Date: 17th April 2024
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHAD'S PRIME MINISTER, FORMER OPPOSITION LEADER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SUCCES MASRA, SAYING: "Our campaign is a grassroots campaign. Our approach is one of co-construction. We're going out to meet Chadians to identify their demands, to exchange views with them, to dialogue with them, even to clarify a number of things, to take on board the right ideas and thus ensure the triumph of the call for justice and equality, which is the majority call in our country." N'DJAMENA, CHAD (APRIL 16, 2024) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS OF FORMER CHAD PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ALBERT PAHIMI PADACKE, IN STADIUM
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2024 20:30
  • Keywords: africa chad change conflict coups elections emerging governmnet lawmakers markets military peace politics president sahel voting war
  • Location: N'DJAMENA, CHAD
  • City: N'DJAMENA, CHAD
  • Country: Chad
  • Topics: Africa,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA003599917042024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chad's opposition leader-turned prime minister, Succes Masra, formally launched a bid for the presidency on Wednesday (April 17) after the only other serious opposition contender accused him of collaborating with transitional leader Mahamat Idriss Deby, who hopes the election will extend his rule.
    The first round of voting is scheduled to take place on May 6 with a potential second slated for June 22. Should a second round happen, it would likely feature a duel between Masra and his boss Deby, who seized power after his father, long-ruling dictator Idriss Deby, was slain on the battlefield in 2021.
    Deby announced his own candidacy in March, days after another opposition politician, Yaya Dillo, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with security forces, raising concerns about conditions for the upcoming poll. Forensic experts have since said Dillo was likely shot at point-blank range.
    Masra, one of the elder Deby's fiercest critics, went into exile after dozens of his supporters were killed during clashes with the younger Deby's security forces. He has consistently been criticized by other opposition figures since returning to Chad at Deby's invitation last year and being appointed as his prime minister.
    (Production: Mahamat Ramadane, Cooper Inveen)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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