Succès Masra is a former opposition leader who signed a reconciliation deal with Mahamat Deby.

Chadian junta-appointed Prime Minister Succès Masra has announced he’ll run for the presidency, a week after the leader of the junta, interim president Mahamat Déby announced his own candidacy.

Mr Masra, a former opposition leader, signed a reconciliation deal with Mr DĂ©by after his return from exile, before he was appointed prime minister in January.

He told supporters at a rally on Sunday that he was seeking the top seat so as to unite the people and “heal hearts”.

The opposition have criticised the move, saying it’s a ploy to give the appearance of pluralism to an election which Mr Déby is certain to win.

It is “a farce, a fake candidacy to accompany the head of military power”, Max Kemkoye, the spokesman of a group of opposition parties GCAP, told the AFP news agency.

Mr DĂ©by’s main rival, opposition leader Yaya Dillo, was killed in a shootout with security forces on 28 February. The government had blamed him for a deadly attack on the country’s security agency, which he denied.

He was widely predicted to be the main opponent of Mr DĂ©by in the election.

Mr Déby took over as Chad’s leader after his father was killed by rebels after three decades in power.