Tom Erdimi has stepped down as higher education minister of Chad after nearly three years in office, according to an official statement signed by Prime Minister Allah-Maye Halina on March 5, 2026. The statement said Erdimi resigned voluntarily and thanked him for his service to the country’s education sector. His departure makes him the second sitting minister to leave the government since President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno assumed power in April 2021 following the death of his father, longtime leader Idriss Déby.
Erdimi, a former rebel leader and political opponent of the late president, joined the transitional government in October 2022 after the Doha Peace Agreement between the government and armed opposition groups aimed at stabilizing the country after years of conflict. During his tenure, Erdimi oversaw several reforms in the higher education sector, including the digitization of university admission procedures at University of N’Djamena, Chad’s leading public university. He also supported the expansion of the country’s higher education system through the creation of new universities and research institutes to increase access for students. Following his resignation, the government has appointed the ministry’s permanent secretary to lead the department in an acting capacity until a new minister is named.
