Chad - October 2025

On 8 October, President Mahamat Déby promulgated constitutional reforms that analysts say will entrench his rule. While presented by the government as ‘technical’ revisions, thereby avoiding the need to hold a confirmatory referendum, the reforms significantly alter the 2023 constitution. They abolish presidential term limits and (after the next election) extend presidential terms from five to seven years, changes that are likely to strengthen President Déby’s incumbency advantage, further undermining the competitiveness of presidential elections and consolidating Chad’s dynastic system (President Deby was preceded in office by his father, who ruled as president for more than 30 years). Another notable change is the reversal of the prohibition on the president holding office in a political party. This legalises Déby’s assumption of the leadership of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (Mouvement Patriotique du Salut, MPS) in January 2025, thereby formally eroding the separation of party and state.

Sources: Constitution Net, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights