Chad PM Masra says to run for president
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00:00 It's a long-awaited announcement.
00:03 The Prime Minister of Chad's transitional government, Souksem Masra, has been nominated
00:08 by his party as a candidate for the May 6th presidential election.
00:13 "As a candidate, I'm running in the May 6th 2024 presidential election to repair hearts,
00:21 unite talents and reconcile the people around the essentials in order to unleash the energies
00:26 to transform Chad."
00:30 In 2018, Masra left his position as a senior official at the African Development Bank to
00:36 found the Transformers Party.
00:39 He subsequently became one of the main opponents of Marshal Idris Deby Itno.
00:44 After 30 years in power, the latter was killed on April 19th 2021.
00:50 The following day, Mahatma Idris Deby Itno, the Marshal's son, was appointed head of state
00:55 by 15 generals.
00:57 A nomination dubbed "Ekudeta" by Masra.
01:01 "It's clear that we don't want Ekudeta in this country.
01:05 They are trying to make sure that they will replace Deby by another Deby.
01:09 Chadian people are saying they don't want the system Deby."
01:12 Together with other opposition parties, he organized demonstrations that were either
01:16 banned or systematically repressed.
01:18 The one held on October 20th, 2022, left its mark.
01:22 Hundreds of young people were killed by police and at least a thousand others imprisoned.
01:27 While the authorities acknowledged only 50 or so deaths, Masra fled the country.
01:31 He returned on November 3rd 2023, three days after signing a reconciliation agreement with
01:37 the junta, granting amnesty to all the demonstrators of October 20th.
01:42 On May 6th, he will face the current president of the transition, General Mahatma Idris Deby
01:47 Itno.