By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A new constitutional amendment approved by Chad’s parliament extends the presidential term from five to seven years and allows the nation’s leader to serve as many times as he may wish.
The constitution received overwhelming approval with a large majority at the parliament on Monday and will be presented before the Senate to concur on October 13.
It was approved by a vote of 171 in support, one abstention and zero against, National Assembly President, Ali Kolotou Tchaimi told reporters on Monday.
After the Senate voting on October 13, it will be presented to the President for his assent, making the amendment come into effect.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power in Chad in 2021 after his father, long-serving President Idriss Deby, was killed at the war front during his visit to troops fighting militias in the north of the country.
He won a May 2024 disputed election, three years after serving as a military leader. In December same year, his party secured majority of parliamentarian seats in an election.
A senior researcher at the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies, Remadji Hoinathy, said the text of the amendment was virtually certain to pass the final vote before the Senate next month and was the latest step by the ruling elite to cement its grip on power.
“There are fewer and fewer dissenting voices,” he said in an interview. “This clearly opens the possibility for the president and ruling party to establish a long-term stronghold on power.”
