Chad has officially concluded its nearly four-year political transition following the death of former President Idriss Déby Itno in 2021.
The announcement of provisional senatorial election results on February 25, 2025, marks the full implementation of the country’s new Constitution, promulgated in December 2024.
The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), led by President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, secured a dominant victory, winning 45 out of 46 Senate seats with a record 99.92% voter turnout. This election finalizes the institutional framework outlined in the Constitution, which also paved the way for the May 2024 presidential election, in which Déby was elected with 61.03% of the vote. His main opponent, Succès Masra, initially contested the results but later accepted them in February 2025, a move seen as fostering political stability.
With an elected president, a functioning National Assembly, and a newly established Senate, Chad now possesses all the institutions outlined in its reformed governance structure. However, challenges remain as President Déby faces pressing issues, including decentralization, national security threats, and economic hardship despite Chad’s oil wealth. While the MPS hails this transition as the dawn of “a new era of sustainable institutional governance,” international observers remain cautious, questioning whether this shift truly signals a break from military influence or a continuation of the Déby family’s political dominance.
