Lydie Beassemda, the first woman to run for president of Chad
Biologist, women’s rights activist, party leader, minister and now senator: an iconic figure of Chadian politics.
Translated from French. Lire en français
Lydie Beassemda is an iconic figure in Chadian politics, known for her commitment to women’s rights and her distinguished academic background. A former presidential candidate, she is now a senator.
Born around 1967 in N’Djamena, she is the daughter of Djébaret Julien Beassemda, founder of the Party for Democracy and Full Independence (PDI). After her baccalaureate in 1989, she studied biology: a degree from the University of Chad in 1994, then a master’s from Abdou Moumouni University in Niger in 1996. She went on to earn two specialised postgraduate diplomas: in food processing from the University of Ouagadougou in 1998, and in territorial planning and local development from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2009.
A multidisciplinary professional
Lydie Beassemda began her career in 1998 as a technician at Chad’s Centre for Nutrition and Food Technology. From 2001 to 2005 she took part in a Chad-Cameroon research project on oil extraction. Her commitment to women’s rights took shape in 2004 when she founded the Mutual Society for the Economic Development of Chadian Women (Mudesoft). She also worked with the Swissaid Foundation from 2005 to 2010 and with Oxfam Intermón’s women’s rights programme in 2009-2010.
A political rise
In 2014 she became secretary-general of the PDI, and took over its leadership after her father’s death in 2018. She was appointed Minister of Production, Irrigation and Agricultural Equipment in May 2018, serving until August 2019. In March 2021 she made history as the first woman to run in a Chadian presidential election, winning 3.16% of the vote.
After the Transitional Military Council was set up in April 2021, she was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation on 2 May 2021, serving until 13 October 2022. On 4 March 2025 she was appointed senator by the President of the Republic.
Throughout her career, Lydie Beassemda has shown unwavering commitment to Chad’s development, gender equality and better living conditions for her fellow citizens.
- Published on:
- Tuesday, 1 April 2025
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