In a decisive move to consolidate Chad’s decentralization process, President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno convened a meeting on Tuesday, July 29, with government delegates based in the provinces alongside locally elected officials.
This gathering followed closely on the heels of the National Seminar on Decentralization, which concluded just three days earlier.
Recognizing provincial councilors and municipal representatives as pivotal actors in implementing decentralization reforms, the President held direct discussions with these key stakeholders.
The purpose was to chart clear, practical steps for strengthening local governance and ensuring the effective application of the recommendations arising from the seminar held between July 21 and 25.
During the meeting, President Déby Itno stressed the core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability as non-negotiable principles in public administration.
He urged government delegates to respect the autonomy granted to decentralized communities, cautioning against any interference with the rightful authority of provincial councils and municipal bodies.
Decentralization, enshrined in Chad’s constitutional framework following the December 17, 2023 referendum, has now entered a crucial operational phase. This transition was marked by the local elections in December 2024, signaling a significant transformation in the country’s public administration and the pursuit of more effective, participatory local governance.
The President’s engagement with grassroots officials highlights a commitment to empowering local actors, a step many see as essential to the success of Chad’s political and administrative reforms. With decentralization underway, the focus now turns to implementation—turning policy into practice and delivering tangible improvements to communities across the nation.
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