List of heads of state of Chad

A hilarious take on the serious matter of Chad’s leaders

Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. The country has been led by numerous heads of state, some of whom had rather peculiar ways of running the nation. Here is a list of some of the most memorable Chadian leaders:

François Tombalbaye

François Tombalbaye was the first president of Chad, serving from 1960 until his assassination in 1975. He was known for his love of hats. In fact, he never once was seen without an unusual hat on his head - sometimes sporting a top hat, sometimes a fedora or a bowler. Some say his love of hats was what led to his untimely demise, as his assassins reportedly stole his signature hat after shooting him.

Hissène Habré

Hissène Habré was the second president of Chad, ruling from 1982-1990. He was known for being a bit of a germaphobe, never allowing anyone to touch him without wearing gloves. In fact, his cabinet members were required to wear gloves during meetings with him. He was once seen in public wearing a full-body hazmat suit during a sandstorm.

Idriss Deby

Idriss Deby was the fifth and the longest-serving president of Chad, serving from 1990 until his death in 2021. He was known for his love of racing camels. In fact, he reportedly owned over 200 racing camels and would often take them for a spin, racing them against other camels in the desert. His opponents often accused him of favoring the camel racing industry over the human population.

Mahamat Déby

Mahamat Déby is the current interim president of Chad, following the death of his father Idriss Déby. He is known for his fashion sense, often wearing brightly colored suits and flashy sunglasses. He once famously arrived at a state summit wearing a full leopard print suit.

Although Chad has had its fair share of eccentric leaders, the country remains an important African nation with a rich history and culture. It’s a place where hats, gloves, camels, and leopard print suits have all graced the halls of power.