Chad’s parliament has passed a constitutional amendment removing presidential term limits, allowing President Mahamat Idriss Deby to seek unlimited re-election. The reform, backed by 236 of 257 lawmakers, extends the presidential term from five to seven years, introduces a deputy prime minister role, lengthens parliamentary terms from five to six years, and restores government immunity.
Deby, who took power in 2021 after his father’s death and was elected in 2024 in a contested vote, is accused by critics of entrenching authoritarian rule. Opposition parties boycotted the reform, calling it unconstitutional, while critics say it effectively grants Deby “two bonus years.”
The move comes after disputed legislative and Senate elections dominated by Deby’s Patriotic Salvation Movement, with opposition figures like Succes Masra facing harsh crackdowns.
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