Chadian deputies and senators have approved significant amendments to the Constitution establishing the Fifth Republic, in a move that has ignited intense political debate.
The vote, held in congress on Friday, October 3, saw 236 of 257 parliamentarians support the revisions, with three abstentions and no votes against.
The opposition staged a dramatic walkout ahead of the vote.
Interim opposition leader, Senator Mbaigolmem Sébastien, denounced the process, saying: “I strongly declare that we refuse to agree to an institutional and electoral lockdown.”
He accused the ruling majority of having “chosen on this solemn day to crucify Chad” and likened their decision to Pontius Pilate washing his hands of the Jesus affair.
The constitutional changes primarily affect the presidential mandate and its conditions.
The amendments extend the presidential term to seven years, remove limits on the number of terms a president can serve, and allow the incumbent to maintain office while leading a political party.
Supporters of the government describe the revisions as a technical adjustment, while critics argue they pave the way for indefinite presidential rule.
MP Béral Mbaikoubou, a vocal critic of the ruling party, condemned the vote, calling it “a forceful move by the ruling party, which unconstitutionally made the President of the Republic its president.”
He added: “Instead of the ruling party making amends to say that we were wrong, no, it is the Constitution that we are deciding to slash to adjust it to the whims of certain charlatans of constitutional law.”
He concluded: “Today we are witnessing the requiem mass of our young and faltering democracy.”
Observers say the changes mark a profound shift in Chad’s political landscape, potentially consolidating power in the hands of the incumbent president and weakening the role of democratic institutions. Opposition parties have warned that this development could further polarize the country, raising questions about the balance between governance, institutional checks, and political freedoms.
With these amendments now approved, Chad enters a new constitutional era, one that critics argue challenges the principles of term limits and political alternation, while supporters frame it as a step toward continuity and stability.
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