The Chadian parliament on Friday overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment scrapping presidential term limits in a move condemned by opponents of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
The vote was boycotted by some opposition members, with the National Rally of Chadian Democrats walking out in protest.
Opposition leader Albert Pahimi Padacke had earlier condemned the change as “unconstitutional and authoritarian,” signalling a deepening political rift.
The reform fundamentally reshapes Chad’s political landscape. It replaces the previous five-year term, renewable once, with a seven-year mandate with no limit on re-election.
The new rules take effect at the next presidential election, but opponents argue that it effectively grants Deby two additional years in power immediately.
The changes also extend parliamentary terms and reinstate immunity for government officials.
The amendment consolidates power for Deby, who took over as transitional leader in 2021 after his father’s death and won a disputed election in May 2024.
The main opposition party, the Transformers, had already dismissed recent elections as a “resounding failure.”
Its leader, Succes Masra, a prominent critic, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in August, a move his attorney called a manipulation of the judicial system.