List of heads of state of Chad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Chad
Coat of arms of Chad
Incumbent Mahamat Déby since 20 April 2021
Residence	Presidential Palace, N'Djamena
Term length	5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	François Tombalbaye
Formation	23 April 1962
Salary	800,000 FCFA / month
Website	Presidency of Chad

This article tells you about the heads of state of Chad since it became an independent country in 1960. A head of state is the top leader of a country. Chad gained its independence from France in 1960.

So far, six different people have been the head of state in Chad. One person, Goukouni Oueddei, held the position two separate times.

The current head of state of Chad is Mahamat Déby. He took power on April 20, 2021. This happened after his father, President Idriss Déby, passed away during a conflict. Mahamat Déby first led a group of military leaders called the Transitional Military Council. Then, on October 10, 2022, he became the Transitional President. On May 6, 2024, he won the presidential election and was officially named President on May 23.

How Long Leaders Can Serve

In 2018, Chad created a new set of rules for its government, called the Constitution. These rules said that a president could only serve two terms. A term is the length of time they are in office. The new rules also changed the length of a term from five years to six years.

However, in 2023, people in Chad voted on some changes to the Constitution. This vote is called a constitutional referendum. The changes made the presidential term go back to five years. They also lowered the age a person needs to be to become president from 40 to 35.

Different Names for Chad's Leaders

Over the years, the top leader of Chad has been called by different names. Here are some of them:

• 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
• 1979–1982: President of the Transitional Government of National Unity
• 1982–1990: President of the Republic
• 1991–2021: President of the Republic
• 2021–2022: President of the Transitional Military Council
• 2022–2024: Transitional President of the Republic
• 2024–present: President of the Republic

List of Chad's Leaders

Here is a list of the people who have been the head of state in Chad.

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 groups

     Military (Chadian Armed Forces and Chad National Army)

Special status

     Interim Head of State

Symbols

Constitutional referendum

No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Elected	Time in office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Started	Ended	Length of time
1		François Tombalbaye (1918–1975)	1962 1969	11 August 1960	13 April 1975 (Removed by military)	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 (Stepped down)	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 (Removed by military)	2 years, 277 days	FROLINAT–FAP	Ngardoum (from 19 May 1982)
5		Hissène Habré (1942–2021)	1989	7 June 1982	2 December 1990 (Removed by military)	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 (Died in battle)	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	4 years, 76 days	Military / MPS	Padacké Kebzabo Masra Halina

Timeline of Leaders

This timeline shows when each leader was in power and which political group they belonged to.

Latest Election Results

The most recent election for president in Chad happened in 2024. Here are the top results:

See also

• Politics of Chad
• List of prime ministers of Chad
• Vice President of Chad
• List of colonial governors of Chad