A decisive constitutional reform on October 3 has marked a turning point in Chad’s political landscape, effectively consolidating the authority of President Mahamat Idriss Déby and raising concerns over the prospect of a lifelong presidency.
Members of parliament and senators, meeting in congress, approved an extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, renewable without limit, a move widely seen as strengthening Mahamat Déby’s grip on power.
The reform follows the adoption of a new Constitution by referendum in 2023, which had already faced criticism for its provisions favoring the executive. By removing term limits and the word “consecutive” from the articles governing presidential re-election, opposition groups and observers denounced the legalisation of what they called a de facto life presidency.
The latest revision further extends the presidential mandate, enhances executive powers, and effectively eliminates checks on authority. During the National Assembly vote, 171 deputies supported the measure, with one abstention and no votes against.
The Senate is scheduled to ratify the reform on October 13, after which it will become law. Observers note that the changes consolidate power in a single individual while cementing the dominance of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) in parliament.
Since the death of Idriss Déby on the battlefield in 2021, Mahamat Déby has methodically consolidated power. Initially installed as head of a military junta, he extended the transitional period and later won the May 2024 presidential election with over 60% of the vote, despite low turnout and allegations of electoral irregularities.
The MPS now controls 124 of 188 parliamentary seats following the December 2024 legislative elections, held amid partial opposition boycotts.
Critics warn that the reform represents a slide toward authoritarianism, severely restricting political competition and civil liberties. Prominent opposition figure Succès Masra, a former transitional Prime Minister, was sentenced to twenty years in prison for “inciting violence” and spreading “hateful messages,” while other dissidents face exile or legal restrictions.
As Chad consolidates centralized power under Mahamat Déby, the long-term prospects for democratic alternation appear uncertain. While the government presents a platform of anti-corruption measures, social investment, and state modernization, the tightening of constitutional and institutional control signals a profound shift toward a highly personalized political system, echoing the legacy of his late father, Idriss Déby.
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