Lawmakers in Chad have approved sweeping constitutional amendments that extend the presidential term from five to seven years and abolish term limits for the office.
The bill, introduced by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), passed overwhelmingly in the lower house on Monday with 171 votes in favor and just one against.
The reforms will be formally considered by the Senate on October 13, where a three-fifths majority is required for adoption. If endorsed, the changes will allow the president to serve an unlimited number of seven-year terms — a major shift from the current system, which restricts presidents to a five-year renewable mandate.
Beyond the presidency, the constitutional overhaul also proposes the creation of a deputy prime minister position, extends parliamentary terms from five to six years, and removes immunity for government officials, making them liable for financial crimes in regular courts.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who came to power in 2021 after the death of his father, long-time ruler Idriss Déby, was elected in May 2024 following a constitutional referendum. The reforms could further consolidate his grip on power after more than three decades of Déby family dominance in the central African nation.
