The political framework of Chad

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Mahamat Déby (since 20 April 2021)
Prime Minister: Succès Masra (since 1 January 2024)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: May 2024
Legislative: to be confirmed

Main Political Parties

Chad is a one-party dominant state, with the nationalistic Patriotic Salvation Movement holding power. Although opposition parties are allowed, they are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. There are around 60 political parties in the country (of which around 15 were represented in the National Assembly), including:

- Rally for Democracy and Progress
- National Rally for Development and Progress
- Federation, Action for the Republic (radical and federalist)
- Chadian Action for Unity and Socialism (Marxist)
- National Union for Democracy and Renewal (socialist)
- Union for Renewal and Democracy
- Action for Renewal of Chad
- People's Movement for Democracy in Chad
- National Democratic and Federal Convention
- National Democratic and Social Convention
- Rally for the Republic - Lingui
- National Rally for Democracy in Chad
- National Union
- Rally of Democratic Forces in Chad.

Executive Power

The president of Chad is the head of state and is elected directly by the people for a renewable five-year term (the constitutional provision which limited the president's term to a maximum of two mandates was removed in 2005). The president appoints the prime minister and the cabinet (known as the Council of State). The president has a strong influence on the legislative power, as he can dissolve the National Assembly in the situation of persistent conflicts between the executive and the legislative branches or if twice within a year the National Assembly rejects the government’s program.

Legislative Power

The legislative power in Chad is vested both in the parliament and the government. The parliament is unicameral, with the 188 deputies of the National Assembly elected by universal suffrage every four years (while the president of the assembly is elected by the deputies every two years). The deputies, as well as the members of the executive, may propose legislation, and once it is approved by the Assembly, the president can decide to either sign or reject the law within 15 days. However, on 20 April 2021, when President Idriss Déby was killed, the National Assembly was dissolved and its functions were assumed by the Transitional Military Council, which was led by Deby’s son. On 10 October 2022, however, the Council was also dissolved and replaced by a transitional administration appointed by Mahamat Déby.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

123/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Not Free

Political Freedom:

7/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House