List of heads of state of Chad

President of the
Republic of Chad
رئيس جمهورية تشاد (Arabic)
Président de la
République du Tchad (French)
Coat of arms of Chad
Incumbent
Mahamat Déby
since 20 April 2021[note 1]
ResidencePresidential Palace, N'Djamena
Term length5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holderFrançois Tombalbaye
Formation23 April 1962
Salary800,000 FCFA / month
WebsitePresidency of Chad
Politics of Chad
Constitution
Government
National Assembly (dissolved)
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
map Africa portal

This is a list of heads of state of Chad since the country gained independence from France in 1960 to the present day.

A total of six people have served as head of state of Chad (not counting two Interim Heads of State). Additionally, one person, Goukouni Oueddei, has served on two non-consecutive occasions.

The current head of state of Chad is Mahamat Déby, since 20 April 2021, when he took power in a military coup following the death of his father, President Idriss Déby. Mahamat Déby was President of the Transitional Military Council, a military junta, from 20 April 2021 until 10 October 2022, when he was sworn is as Transitional President of the Republic following a "national dialogue".[1][2] On 6 May 2024, Déby won the presidential election[3] and was proclaimed President on 23 May.[4]

Term limits

In 2018, the new Constitution of Chad reinstated two-term limits for the president. It also changed the length of the term from five years to six years.[5] However, in 2023, a constitutional referendum was held which changed the length of the term from six years back to five years and which also lowered the minimum age for the presidency from 40 down to 35.[6]

Titles

  • 1960–1962: Head of State
  • 1962–1975: President of the Republic
  • 1975          : Chairman of the Supreme Military Council
  • 1975–1978: Head of State
  • 1978–1979: President of the Republic
  • 1979          : Chairman of the Provisional Council of State
  • 1979          : President of the Transitional Government of National Unity
  • 1979          : Chairman of the Provisional Administrative Committee
  • 1979–1982: President of the Transitional Government of National Unity
  • 1982          : Chairman of the Command Council of the Armed Forces of the North
  • 1982          : Chairman of the Council of State
  • 1982–1990: President of the Republic
  • 1990          : President of the Patriotic Salvation Movement
  • 1990–1991: President of the Council of State
  • 1991–2021: President of the Republic
  • 2021–2022: President of the Transitional Military Council[7]
  • 2022–2024: Transitional President of the Republic[1][2]
  • 2024–present: President of the Republic

List of officeholders

Political parties
  Chadian Progressive Party (PPT) → National Movement for the Cultural and Social Revolution (MNRCS)
  National Liberation Front of Chad (FROLINAT)–People's Armed Forces (FAP)
  Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad (MPLT)
  Armed Forces of the North (FAN) / National Union for Independence and Revolution (UNIR)
  Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS)
Other factions
  Military (Chadian Armed Forces and Chad National Army)
Status
  Interim Head of State
Symbols

C Constitutional referendum

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Term of office Political party Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 François Tombalbaye
(1918–1975)[a] 		1962
1969 		11 August 1960 13 April 1975
(Assassinated in a coup) 		14 years, 245 days PPT
until 1973 renamed to
MNRCS 		Position not established
– Noël Milarew Odingar
(1932–2007) 		— 13 April 1975 15 April 1975 2 days Military Position not established
2 Félix Malloum
(1932–2009) 		— 15 April 1975 23 March 1979
(Resigned) 		3 years, 342 days Military Habré
3 Goukouni Oueddei
(born 1944) 		— 23 March 1979 29 April 1979 37 days FROLINAT–FAP Position vacant
4 Lol Mahamat Choua
(1939–2019) 		— 29 April 1979 3 September 1979 127 days MPLT Position vacant
(3) Goukouni Oueddei
(born 1944) 		— 3 September 1979 7 June 1982
(Deposed in a coup) 		2 years, 277 days FROLINAT–FAP Ngardoum
(from 19 May 1982)
5 Hissène Habré
(1942–2021) 		1989[C] 7 June 1982 2 December 1990
(Deposed in a coup) 		8 years, 178 days FAN / UNIR Ngardoum
(until 19 June 1982)
6 Idriss Déby
(1952–2021) 		1996
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021 		2 December 1990 20 April 2021
(Killed in action) 		30 years, 139 days Military / MPS Bawoyeu
Yodoyman
Moungar
Koumakoye
Djimasta
Ouaido
Yamassoum
Kabadi
Faki
Yoadimnadji
Younousmi
Koumakoye
Abbas
Nadingar
Dadnadji
Deubet
Padacké
7 Mahamat Déby
(born 1984) 		2024 20 April 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 245 days Military / MPS Padacké
Kebzabo
Masra
Halina

Timeline

Mahamat DébyIdriss DébyHissène HabréLol Mahamat ChouaGoukouni OueddeiFélix MalloumNoël Milarew OdingarFrançois Tombalbaye

Latest election

Main article: 2024 Chadian presidential election
CandidatePartyVotes%
Mahamat DébyPatriotic Salvation Movement3,777,27961.00
Succès MasraLes Transformateurs1,148,24518.54
Albert Pahimi PadackéNational Rally for Democracy in Chad1,048,01516.93
Lydie BeassemdaParty for Integral Democracy and Independence [fr]59,6320.96
Théophile Bongoro [fr]Party for Rally and Equity in Chad46,7840.76
Alladoum Djarma [ha]Chadian Socialist Action for Renewal33,7650.55
Brice Guedmbaye [ha]Movement of Patriotic Chadians for the Republic27,8480.45
Yacine Abdramane Sakine [fr]Reformist Party [fr]22,3280.36
Mansiri Lopsikréo [fr]Les Élites15,1470.24
Nasra Djimasngar [fr]A New Day12,7380.21
Total6,191,781100.00
Valid votes6,191,78199.62
Invalid/blank votes23,4630.38
Total votes6,215,244100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,202,20775.78
Source: Africa 24

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As President of the Transitional Military Council until 10 October 2022,[1][2] and as Transitional President until 23 May 2024.
  1. ^ Changed name to N’Garta Tombalbaye on 30 August 1973 due to the policy of Africanization.

References

  1. ^ a b c Ilunga, Patrick (10 October 2022). "Chadian junta leader Mahamat Deby sworn in as President". The East African. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Chad Ruler Raises Hackles with Drawn-Out 'Transition'". Agence France-Presse. Libreville, Gabon. Voice of America. 12 October 2022. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Mahamat Déby wins Chad presidential election". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ^ Donati, Jessica (23 May 2024). "Chad swears in president after disputed election, ending years of military rule". Associated Press. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  6. ^ Eizenga, Daniel; Nodjimbadem, Katie. "Chad's Constitutional Referendum Promises a Transition without Change—or Stability". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Biography of the President of the Transitional Military Council". Presidency of the Republic of Chad (in French). Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.