Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno has been named the recipient of the 2026 African Peace Prize, an award recognizing his management of the political transition in Chad and the country’s role in hosting the large influx of Sudanese refugees. Awarded by the African Peace Conference, this prize highlights Chad’s central role in the dynamics of stability, mediation, and humanitarian solidarity in the Sahel.

An award presented by the African Peace Conference

The 2026 African Peace Prize was awarded to Mahamat Déby Itno by a committee of experts convened at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, under the auspices of the African Peace Conference. The official award ceremony is scheduled for early February 2026 in Nouakchott, at the opening of the 6th African Peace Conference, in the presence of diplomats and African officials.

• The committee emphasizes that the award is intended to honor leaders committed to conflict prevention, regional mediation, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
• This award comes amid heightened security tensions in the Sahel, where the issue of peace is directly linked to political and humanitarian crises.

Political Transition and Stability in Chad

Among the reasons cited, the committee highlights the way Mahamat Déby led the transition following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in April 2021. Having come to power at the head of a Transitional Military Council, he organized a national dialogue and then won the presidential election in May 2024, formalizing the return to constitutional order, despite criticism regarding the inclusiveness and transparency of the process.

• The prize highlights the fact that the country did not descend into open civil war, even though the succession and institutional reform process could have spiraled out of control.
• Some international reports, however, underscore the limitations of the process, pointing to a transition largely controlled by the ruling elite and restrictions on the opposition and civil society.

A major humanitarian role in the face of the Sudanese crisis

The other key dimension recognized by the African Peace Prize concerns Chad’s response to the Sudanese crisis. Since the outbreak of war in Sudan, the country has welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees in the east, in coordination with humanitarian agencies and local communities.

• The committee emphasizes Chad’s humanitarian openness, which has kept its borders open and facilitated access to essential services in border areas.
• This policy of welcoming refugees, in a country itself facing significant socio-economic challenges, is presented as a powerful gesture of regional solidarity.

Regional Mediation and “African Solutions”

Beyond Chad’s borders, Mahamat Déby has positioned himself as a mediator in several regional issues, in line with the principle of “African solutions to African problems” supported by the African Union. The AU has already commended his role as a facilitator in certain peace processes in Central Africa, which reinforces Chad’s image as a pivotal player in the security of the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

• Chadian diplomacy is leveraging this positioning to exert greater influence within African peace and security mechanisms.
• The award received in Nouakchott reinforces this strategy of influence by giving symbolic visibility to mediation and stabilization efforts.

Between International Recognition and Internal Criticism

While this distinction strengthens Mahamat Déby’s international stature, it comes in an ambivalent domestic context. Observers and some members of the opposition denounce a prolonged transition, authoritarian practices, and a political scene that remains tightly controlled, despite rhetoric of reconciliation.

• For the authorities and their supporters, the prize recognizes a trajectory of gradual pacification in a regional environment marked by coups and security fragmentation.
• For critics, the challenge now is to translate this recognition into concrete progress: genuine political openness, security for the population, consolidation of the rule of law, and improved living conditions in Chad.

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