Chad’s National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved constitutional amendments that extend presidential terms from five to seven years and abolish term limits, paving the way for President Mahamat Idriss Déby to potentially remain in power indefinitely.
Lawmakers passed the changes on Monday with 171 votes in favor, one abstention, and none against. A final Senate vote is scheduled for October 13 before the president can sign the amendments into law.
President Déby, who took office after the death of his father Idriss Déby in 2021 while he was visiting troops in northern Chad, consolidated his position through a disputed May 2024 election held after three years of military-led rule. Parliamentary elections in December later gave his party a commanding majority.
Analysts Warn of Entrenched Power
Observers say the amendments strengthen the ruling elite’s long-term hold on power.
“There are fewer and fewer dissenting voices,” noted Remadji Hoinathy of the Institute for Security Studies, adding that the changes effectively allow the president and his allies to entrench their influence.
Opposition Stifled
The May 2024 vote was contested by opposition leader and former prime minister Succès Masra, who also claimed victory. He later stepped down and, in August, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of inciting violence, a move critics see as further evidence of shrinking political space.
Chad became the first military-led state in Central and West Africa to hold elections following a wave of coups in the region. The latest constitutional overhaul marks another step in reshaping the country’s political landscape, with critics warning of weakened democratic checks and balances.