Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno has been named the winner of the 2026 African Peace Prize, in recognition of his role in guiding Chad through a peaceful political transition and for the country’s humanitarian response to hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
The announcement was made by the African Conference for Peace following a unanimous decision by the Prize Committee, which cited Déby’s leadership in consolidating stability in Chad while keeping the country’s eastern borders open to displaced Sudanese civilians.
The committee met at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva under the auspices of the UN-mandated University for Peace. The session was chaired by Dr. David Fernández Puyana and attended by Cheikh Al-Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah, alongside legal experts, human rights defenders and international diplomats.
In a statement, the committee said its decision followed extensive reviews of nominations and analytical reports from African and international research centers. These assessments highlighted President Déby’s emphasis on dialogue, national reconciliation and inclusive governance during what it described as a sensitive political transition that avoided large-scale violence.
Since assuming power, Déby has pursued efforts to reconcile political and social groups, strengthen national unity and address security threats such as extremism and cross-border crime. The committee noted that Chad’s transition period, often a flashpoint for instability in the region, was managed without the country sliding into conflict.
On the humanitarian front, the committee pointed to Chad’s response to the war in Sudan. Acting on Déby’s orders, authorities opened border crossings and established humanitarian corridors in areas including Adré, Tiné, Kornoy, Um Dukhun, Wadi Hawar and Amdjarass. Local communities were encouraged to host refugees, a move praised by aid agencies and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Data cited by the committee indicate that between 40% and 45% of Sudanese refugees have been absorbed directly into host communities in eastern Chad, with families sharing homes, water sources and schools without compensation. The United Nations has described Chad as “a rare model of African generosity toward refugees despite limited resources,” crediting the early and unconditional opening of borders with saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
The African Peace Prize honors leaders who promote peace, security and sustainable development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want.” Previous recipients include Mohamed Bazoum in 2022, Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, Adama Barrow in 2024 and Alassane Ouattara in 2025.
Speaking in Geneva, Dr. Fernández Puyana said the 2026 award sends “a message of hope to the entire African continent that stability and development begin with choosing dialogue over confrontation.” Cheikh Al-Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah described the honor as recognition not only of Déby personally, but of a national leadership approach that places human dignity at its core.
The award ceremony is scheduled for early February in Nouakchott, during the opening of the 6th African Conference for Peace, where Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani is expected to formally present the prize.
