The latest constitutional amendment in Chad abolishing presidential term limits is an assault on democracy and the rule of law.
Development Diaries reports that on 03 October, 2025, President Mahamat Idriss Déby finalised the constitutional amendment abolishing presidential term limits, which had been fast-tracked and approved by both chambers of the parliament after they were voted on in mid-September.
According to a report Human Rights Watch (HRW), the change allows President Déby to remain in power indefinitely, further weakening the prospects for a meaningful, democratic change of government in line with international norms, including the rights to vote and political participation.
The action of Déby administration extending presidential tenure from five to seven years and removing limits entirely has effectively legitimised perpetual rule under the guise of reform.
‘By removing presidential term limits, Chad’s authorities have dismantled an important safeguard against authoritarianism’, said Central Africa director at HRW, Lewis Mudge.
Coming from a government that promised a return to civilian rule after years of military transition, this amendment exposes the hollowness of that commitment and reaffirms fears that Chad is sliding deeper into a personalist dictatorship.
Beyond the immediate implications for governance, the amendment deepens the erosion of the rule of law.
Furthermore, the speed and secrecy surrounding its passage, dominated by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement and boycotted by segments of the opposition, undermine both the spirit and process of democratic inclusion.
The amendment also raises pressing questions about the independence of Chad’s judiciary and legislature, both of which appear to have become instruments of executive control.
It could also push the country into a situation where anyone who disagrees is treated like a criminal, and leaders focus more on staying in power than being responsible to the people.
Moreover, the amendment directly contravenes the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, to which Chad is a signatory.
The Déby administration is weakening domestic institutions in Chad and is also setting a troubling example for the Central African region, where similar power grabs have become alarmingly common.
The government should consider reversing this undemocratic amendment and ensure that any constitutional reform process is transparent and inclusive, release political detainees, and reopen space for political dialogue and civic participation.
Additionally, the African Union, regional blocs, and the international community must also refuse to legitimise this constitutional backslide and instead support Chadian civil society’s demand for accountable governance.
Chadians, and Africa at large must insist that constitutions are not tools for entrenching rulers but instruments for protecting citizens.
Photo source: Joris Bolomey/AFP/Getty Images
