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List of heads of state of Chad facts for kids

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President of the
Republic of Chad
Coat of arms of Chad.svg
Coat of arms of Chad
Mahamat Déby.jpg
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 p1959.jpg 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
No image.png Noël Milarew Odingar
(1932–2007)
13 April 1975 15 April 1975 2 days Military Position not established
2 No image.png Félix Malloum
(1932–2009)
15 April 1975 23 March 1979
(Stepped down)
3 years, 342 days Military Habré
3 No image.png Goukouni Oueddei
(born 1944)
23 March 1979 29 April 1979 37 days FROLINAT–FAP Position vacant
4 No image.png Lol Mahamat Choua
(1939–2019)
29 April 1979 3 September 1979 127 days MPLT Position vacant
(3) No image.png 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 in 1987 (cropped).jpg 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 at the White House in 2014.jpg 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.jpg 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.

Mahamat Déby Idriss Déby Hissène Habré Lol Mahamat Choua Goukouni Oueddei Félix Malloum Noël Milarew Odingar François Tombalbaye

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

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List of heads of state of Chad Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.