Chad’s National Assembly has rubber-stamped sweeping constitutional changes that pave the way for President Mahamat Idriss Déby to entrench his rule, extending presidential terms from five to seven years and scrapping limits on re-election.
Déby, who seized power in 2021 after his father’s assassination, has already weathered a disputed 2024 election and secured a parliamentary majority. Monday’s vote was overwhelming: 171 MPs in favour, one against, and no abstentions. The reforms now head to the Senate for a vote on 13 October, where little resistance is expected.
Under the revisions, members of parliament will also serve longer terms—six years instead of five—while a Deputy Prime Minister post will be created to improve government coordination. Electoral campaigns will be eligible for public funding, in what the government claims is a step towards levelling the political playing field.
In a notable shift, ministers accused of economic or financial crimes will face trial in ordinary courts, a move officials say strengthens accountability. Other measures include a summer recess for the President and Prime Minister to promote “work-life balance” and a revamped “Ombudsman of the Republic” to handle public grievances.
Neloum Mbaigoto, head of the special review commission, defended the overhaul as a bid to boost “administrative efficiency and institutional flexibility.” But critics warn it marks another tightening of Déby’s grip on power, building on the constitution adopted less than a year ago in December 2023.
The reforms will only take effect after official promulgation, but analysts say they cement Déby’s dominance and raise fresh questions about Chad’s democratic future.
