2016 Tutu Fellow Succès Masra PhD was interviewed in his first visit abroad in February as interim Prime Minister in an online event by the Atlantic Council.  The interview spelled out the difficulties the civilian transition faces in a country heading towards a presidential election in May.  Succès had been the leader of the opposition prior to his being allowed to return from exile and was appointed as Interim Prime Minister ahead of the May 2024 elections.

In his interview, he spelled out how Chad is a landlocked country, situated between Sudan, which is facing its coup and conflict, and Mali, which is facing an insurgency from Islamic State.

He said that his invitation by the Biden administration was well received and that he and the US shared common human values - freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and democracy. He said he hoped he might build bridges between Chad and the US. 

In the interview he also outlined that his country was dealing with one and a half million refugees from the Sudan war on top of the common security and humanitarian challenges it had been dealing with. He said that if reconciliation, dialogue and the common interests of the people were pursued, the country could be transformed. He echoed themes that are core to the Tutu Leadership Programme - that of servant leadership - in how he sees his role going forward. By using servant leadership, he believed he could build partnerships to produce results for Chad. 

The 40-minute interview was wide ranging and in provides insights into Succès' view of the opportunities for positive change for Chad. His visit to the US came as the US is withdrawing from Africa or re-evaluating its role on the continent. He called for the international community to remain engaged with Chad and in particular to send monitors to ensure the election was free and fair.

While Succès was in the US on the diplomatic visit, news erupted of gunfire in the capital, N’Djamena.  A prominent Chadian opposition leader, Yaya Dillo, was killed by government troops who said he had been shot dead in an exchange of fire when security forces tried to arrest him at his party's headquarters in the capital. Subsequent forensic investigation has called this account into question, saying Dillo was at close range and opposition has called it an assassination. Dillo had been planning to run against President Deby, a military general who took power after his long-ruling father was killed in April 2021 while campaigning against rebel forces in northern Chad. When he returned to Chad, Succès promised an "international investigation" into the death of Dillo, who was the main opponent of transitional President Deby.

Note: This story has been superseded by events in Chad.  The May 2024 elections took place and Chad's military leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby, who seized power in 2021, was declared winner and President.  As leader of the opposition, Succès filed an appeal with the constitutional council to challenge the results, saying the election had been rigged. Never the less, the interview still provides a snapshot and insight into the goals Succès had prior to the elections. 

Watch the interview on the Atlantic Council Youtube Channel, or view it below.

 Header image: Screengrab from the interview on the Atlantic Council's YouTube channel.