Government and Politics of Chad

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile

Legal System

based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Mahamat Idriss DEBY (since 20 April 2021); note: Mahamat Idriss DEBY assumed power following the death of his father, long-serving President Idriss DEBY, who died on 20 April 2021 from wounds sustained on the battlefield; Mahamat initially led a Transitional Military Council and was later confirmed as transitional president; he won the presidential election held on 6 May 2024, marking a transition toward constitutional governance head of government: Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since May 2024); note: the office of prime minister has undergone several changes during the transitional period cabinet: Council of Ministers, appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote to serve a five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two leading candidates proceed to a second round; presidential election last held on 6 May 2024; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Mahamat Idriss DEBY elected president in the 2024 election; percent of vote — Mahamat Idriss DEBY approximately 61%, Succès MASRA approximately 19%, other candidates sharing the remainder

Legislative Branch

Chad's legislature has undergone significant changes in recent years. Following a transitional period marked by political upheaval and military governance, Chad adopted a new constitution in November 2023, which restructured the country's legislative framework. Under this constitution, a unicameral Transitional National Council (Conseil National de Transition) served as the interim legislative body during the transition to civilian rule. Legislative elections were held in May 2024, restoring an elected National Assembly. The assembly comprises 188 seats, with members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. A Senate is provided for under the constitutional framework but has not yet been formally constituted. Election results from the May 2024 legislative elections saw the ruling Mouvement Patriotique du Salut (MPS) and its allied parties secure a dominant share of seats, reinforcing the political position of President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who had assumed power following the death of his father, President Idriss Déby Itno, in April 2021. Smaller parties and independent candidates claimed the remaining seats, though opposition participation was limited amid ongoing concerns about the political environment.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political Parties

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Head of State

President Mahamat Idriss DEBY

Head of Government

Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since May 2024)

Cabinet

Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Election Results

Chad's political landscape has been shaped by decades of authoritarian rule, military intervention, and constrained electoral competition. Following the death of longtime president Idriss Déby in April 2021 — killed during fighting with rebel forces just one day after being declared the winner of a presidential election — power was transferred to his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby, who assumed leadership of a Transitional Military Council. This transfer was widely criticized by opposition groups and some international observers as an unconstitutional seizure of power, though several regional partners, including the African Union, opted to engage with the transitional government rather than condemn it outright. A national dialogue held in August 2022 extended the transition period by an additional two years and confirmed Mahamat Idriss Déby as transitional president. Many opposition and civil society groups boycotted these talks, questioning their legitimacy. A constitutional referendum was held in November 2023, in which Chadians voted on whether to establish a unitary state rather than a federal system. Official results indicated that approximately 85.9 percent of voters approved the new constitution, with a reported turnout of around 63 percent. Critics, however, raised concerns about the transparency of the process and the conditions under which the vote was conducted. Presidential elections took place in May 2024, with Mahamat Idriss Déby declared the winner after reportedly receiving approximately 61 percent of the vote. His nearest rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, received around 18.5 percent. International observers noted procedural concerns, while the government maintained that the elections were free and transparent. The results were validated by Chad's Constitutional Council, formally transitioning Mahamat Idriss Déby from transitional leader to elected president. Legislative elections, promised as part of the roadmap toward a civilian-led government, were also scheduled as part of the broader democratic transition process, though full implementation of a representative multiparty system remains a work in progress amid ongoing security challenges in the country's northern and eastern regions.

Constitution

passed by referendum 31 March 1996

Independence

11 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc WALL embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 70-09 FAX: [235] (51) 56-54

Capital City

N'Djamena

Location

12 06 N, 15 02 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

name taken from the Arab name of a nearby village, Nijamina, meaning "place of rest"

U.S. Embassy in Chad Avenue Felix Eboue N’Djamena Mailing Address BP 413 N’djamena Chad Telephone: 235 2251-62-11, 2251-70-09, 2251-77-59, 2251-90-52, 2251-92-18, and 2251-92-33. Emergency after-hours telephone: 235 6351-7800 Facsimile: 235 2251-56-54

Military Branches

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), National Gendarmerie, National and Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT)

Service Age and Obligation

20 is the legal minimum age for compulsory military service, with a 3-year service obligation; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a parent or guardian; women are subject to 1 year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21