Chad has inched closer to removing presidential term limits after lawmakers approved sweeping constitutional reforms this week, according to French broadcaster RFI. The National Assembly voted on Monday to extend the presidential term from five to seven years while eliminating term limits altogether.
The measure sailed through with 171 votes in favour, one abstention, and 16 opposition MPs boycotting the session. A final Senate vote is set for October 13. If endorsed, President Mahamat Idriss Déby is expected to sign the reforms into law, cementing his hold on power.
Opposition Cries Foul
Opposition leaders have described the development as a dangerous blow to Chad’s fragile democracy. Malloum Yoboïdé Djeraki, head of the Social Democratic Party for a Change of Power, said he was shocked by the “profound modification” to the constitution, noting that lawmakers were initially told the reforms would be merely technical.
Former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacké echoed this concern, warning that Chad was “choosing to abandon the democratic path” and risked “the burial of democracy.”
Déby’s Road to Long-Term Rule
President Déby came to power in 2021 after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed while visiting troops at the front line. He consolidated authority after a disputed May 2024 election, which followed three years of military rule. By December, his Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party dominated parliament, giving him the numbers to push reforms through.
Analysts say the Senate is unlikely to block the measure. Remadji Hoinathy of the Institute for Security Studies told Reuters that dissenting voices are shrinking, creating space for Déby to entrench himself and his party for the long term.
Ruling Party Defends Move
The MPS has pushed back against criticism, framing the reforms as part of a routine constitutional process. Party spokesperson Abdel Nasser Garboa said experts carefully reviewed the amendments before the vote. “The politicians who say they are surprised, that’s just their perspective,” he told RFI.
But the political climate remains tense. Succès Masra, a former prime minister who once claimed victory in the 2024 presidential election, resigned after the reforms and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for inciting violence.
The Final Test
All eyes now turn to October 13, when the Senate delivers its verdict. If the bill passes, Chad will officially abandon presidential term limits, a move critics warn could entrench Déby’s rule for decades—mirroring the political dynasty of his late father.
