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
Style	Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (formal, diplomatic)
Residence	Presidential Palace, N'Djamena
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Chad (2023)
Inaugural holder	François Tombalbaye
Formation	23 April 1962; 63 years ago (1962-04-23)
Deputy	President of the National Assembly
Salary	800,000 FCFA / month
Website	Presidency of Chad

The President of Chad is the country's main leader. This person is the head of state and also the commander-in-chief of Chad's army. It is the most important job in the government. The president is chosen by the people in an election. They serve for five years and can be re-elected once.

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

The current president is Mahamat Déby. He officially became president on May 23, 2024. Before that, he was a temporary president starting in 2022. He also led the Transitional Military Council from 2021. This happened after his father, the previous president Idriss Déby, passed away during a conflict in 2021.

Presidential Term Limits

In 2018, Chad's new Constitution set rules for how long a president can serve. It said a president could only serve two terms. It also changed the length of each term from five years to six years.

However, in 2023, the people of Chad voted in a special election. They decided to change the term length back to five years. They also made it possible for someone to become president at a younger age. The minimum age was changed from 40 down to 35.

Different Titles for Chad's Leader

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

• 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
• 2022–2024: Transitional President of the Republic
• 2024–present: President of the Republic

Who Has Been President?

This section lists the people who have served as Chad's head of state. It also shows which political group they belonged to.

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)

Status

     Interim Head of State

Symbols

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)	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
–		Goukouni Oueddei (born 1944)	—	23 March 1979	29 April 1979	37 days		FROLINAT–FAP	Position vacant
3		Lol Mahamat Choua (1939–2019)	—	29 April 1979	3 September 1979	127 days		MPLT	Position vacant
4		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	7 June 1982	2 December 1990 (Deposed in a coup)	8 years, 178 days		FAN / UNIR	Ngardoum (until 19 June 1982)
–		Idriss Déby (1952–2021)	—	2 December 1990	28 February 1991	88 days		MPS	Position abolished
6			1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021	28 February 1991	20 April 2021 (Killed in action)	30 years, 51 days			Bawoyeu Yodoyman Moungar Koumakoye Djimasta Ouaido Yamassoum Kabadi Faki Yoadimnadji Younousmi Koumakoye Abbas Nadingar Dadnadji Deubet Padacké
–		Mahamat Déby (born 1984)	—	20 April 2021	Incumbent	4 years, 97 days		Military / MPS	Padacké Kebzabo Masra Halina
7			2024

Timeline of Chad's Leaders

This timeline shows when each president or head of state served and which political group they were part of.

Recent Presidential Election

The most recent election for president in Chad was held in 2024. Here are the results:

See also

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