Mr Masra, the head of the Transformers party, fled Chad a year ago following a deadly crackdown on protesters opposed to election delays by the ruling military junta.

He vowed last month to return home by 20 October, the anniversary of the protests.

But in a statement on Sunday, he said Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, the current chairperson of the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas) bloc, advised him to delay his return until early November.

He did not say on what date he now plans to return.

The announcement comes after Chad's junta reportedly ordered airlines not to fly Mr Masra home and to provide the names of all passengers travelling to the capital N'Djamena.

The junta issued an arrest warrant for the opposition leader in July, accusing him of inciting hatred and rebellion in the central African nation.

Some 200 opposition supporters have been arrested for preparing to welcome Mr Masra.