Chad’s constitutional changes: a threat to democracy and rule of law

Nairobi — Chad’s latest constitutional amendment, which eliminates presidential term limits, poses a severe threat to the rule of law and democratic governance, according to human rights observers. The changes, recently approved by parliament, pave the way for President Mahamat Idriss Déby to remain in power indefinitely, undermining prospects for democratic transition in line with international standards.

Erosion of democratic safeguards

The removal of term limits removes a critical constitutional safeguard against authoritarianism. Lewis Mudge, Central Africa Director at Human Rights Watch, warns that instead of strengthening democratic norms, the government is consolidating a one-man rule system.

On October 3, President Mahamat Idriss Déby finalized constitutional amendments that had been fast-tracked and approved by both parliamentary chambers after mid-September votes. The ruling Mouvement patriotique du salut (MPS) dominated the process, pushing through changes that extend presidential terms from five to seven years while removing all term limits. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, denouncing the process as unconstitutional and illegitimate.

Constitutional manipulation and authoritarian trends

The government has defended the changes as a technical adjustment, but critics argue they enable an indefinite presidency. Mahamat Idriss Déby has held power since 2021 following his father’s death, Idriss Déby Itno, who ruled Chad for three decades after abolishing term limits in 2005.

The amendments also eliminate a key constitutional mechanism for peaceful power transitions, allowing a single party to dominate indefinitely. This aligns with a regional trend of constitutional coups—where governments use legal amendments to extend their grip on power—despite the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which Chad is a signatory to. The Charter explicitly condemns amendments that undermine democratic alternation as unconstitutional power retention tactics.

State repression and political crackdowns

Chad’s opposition and civil society face persistent harassment and intimidation. Ahead of the 2021 elections, security forces violently dispersed peaceful protests, using tear gas, beatings, and arbitrary arrests. After Idriss Déby Itno’s death, the military—led by Mahamat Idriss Déby—seized control, promising a democratic transition but instead consolidating power through repression.

The 2022 pro-democracy protests turned deadly when security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several and detaining hundreds, many sent to the notorious Koro Toro prison. Opposition leader Succès Masra, arrested in May 2025 on charges including incitement to violence, was sentenced to 20 years in prison following a politically motivated trial and remains detained.

Historical patterns of constitutional abuse

This is not the first time Chad has removed term limits. Idriss Déby Itno abolished them in 2005, enabling his decades-long rule. A brief restoration in 2018 was followed by another extension, allowing him to serve until his death. Mahamat Idriss Déby’s decision to eliminate term limits just seven years later underscores how constitutional manipulation has become a tool for retaining power.

Pathways to democratic restoration

Human rights advocates urge Chad’s authorities to reinstate term limits and ensure transparent, inclusive constitutional reforms. Opposition leaders, who boycotted the parliamentary vote, have called for a referendum to validate such changes, as was done in a 2023 referendum that ended military rule.

They also demand an end to politically motivated prosecutions, the release of detained opposition figures like Succès Masra, and guarantees for free expression and assembly.

Lewis Mudge concludes, “Repression is now standard in Chad, and the Constitution itself is being rewritten to further restrict citizens’ rights. Without credible mechanisms for democratic power transitions, institutions like parliament, the judiciary, and the press lose their ability to check executive overreach.”