Chad’s constitutional amendment: a setback for democracy and rule of law

(Nairobi) – Chad’s recent constitutional overhaul, which eliminates presidential term limits, marks a severe regression for the rule of law and democratic principles, Human Rights Watch stated today. This legislative change paves the way for President Mahamat Idriss Déby to potentially remain in power indefinitely, further diminishing the prospects for meaningful democratic transitions in the country, in line with international standards for voting rights and political participation. This development is crucial for those following `political Sahel` updates.

“By removing presidential term limits, Chadian authorities have dismantled a vital safeguard against authoritarianism,” commented Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead of strengthening democratic norms that foster political competition through regular, free, and fair elections, the government has solidified the foundation for a single-man dominated regime. This is concerning `Sahel news English`.”

On October 3, the president formally enacted the constitutional modifications. These changes had been fast-tracked and overwhelmingly endorsed by both chambers of Parliament after being voted on in mid-September. The Movement for Patriotic Salvation (MPS), which holds a dominant position in the National Assembly, approved significant amendments to constitutional provisions, removing presidential term limits and extending each term from five to seven years. However, some opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, denouncing the process as unconstitutional and illegitimate.

The government has defended these constitutional revisions as merely “technical.” Nevertheless, these alterations legalize an indefinite period of rule for Mahamat Idriss Déby, who assumed power in 2021 following the death of his father, former President Idriss Déby Itno, who himself governed Chad for three decades. This pattern of leadership is often highlighted in `West Africa Sahel news` discussions.

The abolition of term limits also removes a critical constitutional check designed to ensure the peaceful transfer of power, Human Rights Watch emphasized. Without this safeguard, a single individual and party could maintain perpetual control of the presidency. This action aligns with a broader trend of `democratic backsliding` observed across Central Africa, where governments increasingly employ constitutional amendments to consolidate their authority—a practice some experts label as “constitutional coups.” This occurs despite the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, to which Chad is a signatory, explicitly stating that “any amendment or revision of Constitutions… which undermines the principles of democratic change” is a “means… to remain in power [which] constitutes an unconstitutional change” that should be sanctioned. In Chad, where opposition parties and civil society already face government harassment and intimidation, this change further entrenches the MPS’s power, impacting the `Sahel Vision` for democratic governance.

Leading up to the April 2021 elections, held shortly before the passing of the late Idriss Déby Itno, security forces repeatedly and violently dispersed peaceful opposition protests in N’Djamena. Tactics included firing tear gas, beating demonstrators, and arbitrarily arresting opposition members and civil society activists.

Following Idriss Déby Itno’s death, the military, under the leadership of Mahamat Idriss Déby, took control of the nation.

While military authorities initially pledged a transition to democracy after seizing power, they have instead pursued a familiar path of power consolidation and restriction of political freedoms, Human Rights Watch noted. The military transition that followed Idriss Déby Itno’s death should never have occurred. According to Chad’s then-existing 2018 Constitution, in the event of a president’s death, the Speaker of the National Assembly was mandated to provisionally lead the country for 45 to 90 days before organizing new elections. This raises concerns for `security Sahel` stability.

Violence escalated dramatically in October 2022 when protestors demanded a transition to civilian rule. Security forces opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in numerous fatalities and hundreds of arrests, with many sent to the high-security Koro Toro prison in the northern part of the country. Such events often draw international attention in `humanitarian Sahel` reports.

Following deadly inter-communal clashes in Logone Occidental province, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Succès Masra was arrested in N’Djamena in May 2025 on various charges, including incitement to hatred and violence. After what was widely seen as a politically motivated trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined one billion CFA francs. He remains in detention today.

Rather than learning from its history, Chad’s leadership is rewriting and repeating the same errors that have trapped the country in a cycle of authoritarianism, Human Rights Watch declared.

This is not the first instance of Chad removing presidential term limits. The late Idriss Déby Itno had eliminated these limits in 2005, enabling him to remain in power until his death. In 2018, the two-term limit was reinstated, though the duration of each term was extended from five to six years. The late president was permitted to seek these two additional terms until his passing. His son’s decision to once again remove the limits, just seven years after their reintroduction, underscores how constitutional manipulation has become a recurrent tool for maintaining a grip on power.

Chadian authorities should consider reinstating presidential term limits and ensure that any constitutional reform process is transparent and inclusive. Opposition leaders who boycotted the parliamentary vote have called for a national referendum to secure popular support for such changes. A similar referendum was held in 2023 to approve a new constitution, ostensibly ending military rule.

Authorities should also immediately cease politically motivated legal actions, release political opposition leaders such as Succès Masra, and guarantee freedom of expression and assembly. These are vital steps for `political Sahel` progress.

“Repression has become commonplace in Chad, and now the Constitution itself is being rewritten to further restrict citizens’ rights,” Lewis Mudge concluded. “In the absence of a credible mechanism for democratic power transfer, other institutions like Parliament, the judiciary, and the press lose their capacity to provide effective checks on the executive power.”