List of heads of state of Chad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of theRepublic of Chad |
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![]() Coat of arms of Chad
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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.
Contents
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) | ||
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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, 67 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:
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mahamat Déby | Patriotic Salvation Movement | 0 | – | |
Succès Masra | Les Transformateurs | 0 | – | |
Albert Pahimi Padacké | National Rally for Democracy in Chad | 0 | – | |
Total | ||||
Valid votes | 0 | – | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 0 | – | ||
Total votes | 0 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | – | |||
Source: Africa 24 |
See also
- Politics of Chad
- List of prime ministers of Chad
- Vice President of Chad
- List of colonial governors of Chad