Simone Lawson
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in North and Central Africa. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad has experienced turbulent institutional and political development, including years of dictatorship and single-party rule. The country has had several constitutions, with the most recent one adopted in 2018. This constitution establishes a presidential regime, with a strong executive branch headed by a president who is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The constitution provides for a secular state, guaranteeing religious freedom and equality for all citizens regardless of gender, origin, race, social status, political party, or religion. It remains to be seen whether the latest constitution will bring political stability and peace to the country, which has been plagued by internal dissent, civil war, and ethnic violence in recent years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country name | Republic of Chad |
| Date of independence | 11 August 1960 |
| Current constitution | 2018 Constitution |
| Previous constitution | 1996 Constitution |
| Type of government | Presidential regime |
| Type of state | Secular |
| Equality | Regardless of gender, origin, race, social status, political party, or religion |
| Referendum | To be held on 17 December 2023 |
| Population | 19 million |
| Area | 1,284,000 km² or 1,300,000 km² |
| Capital | N'Djamena |
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What You'll Learn
Chad's 2018 Constitution
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in North and Central Africa. The Republic of Chad gained independence from France in 1960 and has since experienced turbulent institutional and political development. Chad's 2018 Constitution is the country's eighth constitution since independence and was adopted on May 4, 2018. It replaces the 1996 Constitution, which was revised in 2005 and 2013.
The 2018 Constitution establishes the Fourth Republic within a presidential regime, abolishing the post of Prime Minister. It provides for a strong executive branch headed by a president who is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president has the power to appoint the cabinet and exercises influence over appointments of judges, generals, provincial officials, and heads of Chad's para-statal firms. The constitution also guarantees religious freedom and provides for a secular state, with a separation of religions and the state.
The 2018 Constitution was preceded by a period of institutional and political crisis, marked by years of dictatorship, single-party rule, and a lack of democratic culture and political pluralism. The Sovereign National Conference in 1993 and the Inclusive National Forum in 2018 worked towards restoring confidence among the Chadian people and enabling the advent of a new era with reinforced democracy and the rule of law. However, in April 2021, the Transitional Military Council suspended the 2018 Constitution and granted General Mahamat Déby interim presidential powers.
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Equality and rights
Chad's constitution guarantees equality and rights for all its citizens. The constitution establishes Chad as a secular, social, and indivisible republic founded on the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and justice. It ensures that all Chadians are equal before the law, regardless of gender, origin, race, social status, political affiliation, or religion. The state is committed to providing equality for all and combatting social inequalities that have plagued the country for decades.
Chad's turbulent political history has been characterised by years of dictatorship and single-party rule, which have hindered the development of democracy and political pluralism. Successive regimes have been implicated in violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, resulting in war, political violence, and intolerance among diverse communities. The constitution aims to address these issues and foster national unity and dignity.
The 2018 Constitution of Chad, which replaced the 1996 Constitution, introduced significant reforms to reinforce democracy and the rule of law. It abolished the post of Prime Minister and established a strong executive branch headed by a president who is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The president wields considerable power, including the appointment of the cabinet and influence over judicial and military appointments. However, in 2021, the Transitional Military Council suspended the 2018 Constitution, granting General Mahamat Déby interim presidential powers.
In June 2023, Chad's transitional parliament adopted a preliminary draft constitution with an overwhelming majority, signalling a potential return to civilian rule. This draft constitution is based on the historical 1996 Constitution, which was a product of the National Sovereign Conference of 1993 and is favoured by Chadians for its consultative nature. The new draft proposes a semi-presidential system and the reintroduction of a bicameral parliament. It aims to address the country's political and institutional challenges and pave the way for a more stable and democratic future.
The Mediator of the Republic, an independent administrative authority established in 2018, plays a crucial role in promoting equality and rights in Chad. This institution is responsible for peacefully settling conflicts, addressing complaints about public administration, and contributing to the functioning of autonomous communities and public establishments. Additionally, the National Commission for the Organisation of the Constitutional Referendum (CONOREC) was set up to oversee the constitutional referendum process.
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Religion and the state
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in North and Central Africa. It has a population of 19 million people, with a wide range of ethnic and linguistic groups. The country has experienced a turbulent political history, with years of dictatorship and single-party rule. However, since the Sovereign National Conference in 1993, which brought together political parties, civil society associations, and religious authorities, Chad has made strides towards democracy and the rule of law.
The Chadian Constitution of 1996, revised in 2005 and 2013, and further updated in 2018, establishes the country as a secular state, separating religion and state. It guarantees freedom of religion and equality before the law, regardless of religious belief. The constitution explicitly prohibits any act or propaganda that undermines the secularism of the state or promotes ethnic, tribal, or religious divisions that threaten national unity. The Director of Religious and Traditional Affairs within the Ministry of Interior is tasked with overseeing religious matters, resolving intercommunal disputes, and safeguarding the religious freedoms outlined in the constitution.
Muslims are predominantly found in northern and eastern Chad, while animists and Christians are mainly located in southern Chad and Guéra. Southern Chad also has a significant Muslim population, although the Christian presence in the north is minimal. The country is home to foreign missionaries from both Christian and Islamic groups, and it observes religious holidays from both faiths, such as Easter Monday and Eid al-Fitr, as national holidays.
Despite the constitutional protections for religious freedom, there have been reports of religious tensions in Chad. Media outlets have noted friction between Christians and younger imams in the south-central region, as well as violence fuelled by farmer-herder disputes, where herders are often associated with Islam and farmers with Christianity. Additionally, the Grand Imam of N'Djamena's refusal to regulate sermon content has been a point of contention. However, these issues do not appear to be widespread, as much of the country remains relatively free from significant conflict between religious groups.
The Chadian Constitution of 2018 and its predecessors have played a pivotal role in fostering religious freedom and equality, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their faith, enjoy equal rights and protections under the law. The country's commitment to secularism and the separation of religion and state is a cornerstone of its democratic aspirations.
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Presidential powers
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in North and Central Africa. It is a sovereign republic that is independent, secular, social, and indivisible. The Republic of Chad has a constitution that was approved by parliament in 2018.
The 2018 Constitution of Chad establishes a strong executive branch headed by a president who dominates the political system. The President of Chad is the guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, respect for the Constitution, treaties, and international agreements. They assure, through their arbitration, the regular functioning of public powers and the continuity of the State. The President is elected by universal direct suffrage for a term of six years, renewable once.
The President of the Republic of Chad has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. They exercise considerable influence over the appointments of judges, generals, provincial officials, and heads of Chad's para-statal firms. The President also has the authority to declare a state of emergency in cases of grave and immediate threat, in consultation with the National Assembly.
The President of Chad is the guarantor of the independence of the Magistrature. They oversee the execution of laws and judicial decisions and are assisted by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, which they preside over. The President's role in the Superior Council of the Magistrature is distinct from their executive powers, as they are subject only to the authority of the law in this capacity.
The 2018 Constitution of Chad also establishes the Supreme Court as the highest jurisdiction in judicial, administrative, and constitutional matters. It is responsible for safeguarding individual freedoms and property rights, as well as ensuring respect for fundamental rights. The Supreme Court also oversees the regularity of referendum operations and proclaims the results.
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Chad's historical constitutions
Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in North and Central Africa. It has had a turbulent political history, including years of dictatorship and single-party rule.
Chad was proclaimed a republic on 28 November 1958 and gained national and international sovereignty on 11 August 1960. However, its political development since then has been turbulent, with years of dictatorship and single-party rule preventing the development of a democratic culture and political pluralism.
The Sovereign National Conference, held in N'Djamena from 15 January to 7 April 1993, brought together political parties, civil society associations, state organs, traditional and religious authorities, and representatives of rural communities. This conference restored confidence among the Chadian people and ushered in a new era, which was consecrated in the Constitution of 31 March 1996. This constitution was revised in 2005 and 2013.
The 1996 Constitution provided for a strong executive branch headed by a president who dominates the political system. The president has the power to appoint the prime minister and cabinet and can exert influence over judicial and military appointments. The constitution also removed term limits for the presidency, allowing a president to remain in power beyond the previous two-term limit.
In 2018, the Inclusive National Forum was held in N'Djamena, leading to reforms that reinforced democracy and the rule of law. This resulted in the 2018 Constitution, which provides for a secular state, guaranteeing religious freedom and equality for all citizens regardless of gender, origin, race, social status, political party, or religion. It also establishes the conditions for acquiring and losing Chadian nationality and guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Chad has had several constitutions since its independence from France in 1960. The most recent constitution was adopted on 4 May 2018, establishing the Fourth Republic and a presidential regime.
The 2018 constitution establishes a secular state, guaranteeing religious freedom and equality before the law, regardless of gender, origin, race, social status, political party, or religion. It provides for a strong executive branch headed by a president who is elected for a five-year term and has the power to appoint the cabinet and other key officials.
Yes, there have been efforts to amend the 2018 constitution. In 2021, a preliminary draft constitution was proposed, based on the 1996 constitution, which included the return of a semi-presidential system and a bicameral parliament. This draft constitution was adopted by Chad's transitional parliament on 27 June 2023 and will be put to a referendum in December 2023.
