Chad’s Parliament Approves Scrapping of Presidential Term Limits Amid Opposition Outcry
Reforms extend term from five to seven years, allow indefinite re-election as critics warn of democratic backsliding.
Chad has moved closer to abolishing presidential term limits after its National Assembly overwhelmingly approved sweeping constitutional reforms that extend the presidential mandate from five to seven years and allow indefinite re-election.
The reforms, passed on Monday with 171 votes in favor, one abstention and none against, now head to the Senate for a final vote on October 13. Given the ruling party’s dominance, the measure is expected to sail through before being signed into law by President Mahamat Idriss Déby.
Déby, who came to power in 2021 following the battlefield death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, cemented his authority after winning a disputed election in May 2024 and securing a parliamentary majority in December. His supporters argue the reforms are necessary to “modernize” the Constitution and streamline governance.
But opposition parties and civil society leaders have condemned the changes as a dangerous rollback of democratic gains. Many boycotted Monday’s session, accusing the government of misleading lawmakers by initially presenting the reforms as “technical” adjustments rather than far-reaching constitutional changes.
“These are profound modifications, not minor technical fixes,” opposition MP Malloum Yoboïdé Djeraki told reporters. Former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacké warned that Chad was “abandoning the democratic path” and entrenching authoritarianism.
The reforms effectively dismantle provisions introduced in the 2023 constitution, which limited presidents to two five-year terms. Analysts say the removal of term limits clears the way for Déby, 40, and his party to consolidate power indefinitely.
“This vote shows there are fewer and fewer dissenting voices in Chad’s political system,” said Remadji Hoinathy, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies.
International observers have also raised concerns. Human rights groups warned that the reforms risk fueling unrest in a country already grappling with insurgencies, ethnic tensions and economic pressures.
For now, the Senate’s approval is seen as a formality, but the October vote will mark a defining moment in Chad’s political trajectory. Critics argue it could set the stage for decades of Déby family dominance, while supporters insist it will bring stability and continuity to the oil-rich Central African state.
Source: All Africa
