Born: 1967 (N’Djamena, Chad)
Biography:
Lydie Beassemda (born c. 1967) is a Chadian politician. Since 2 May 2021, she has served as the Minister of Higher Education and Research under Chad’s Transitional Military Council. Known for her activism in women’s rights, Beassemda made her foray into politics in 2016 as a prominent member of the Party for Democracy and Full Independence (PDI), which was founded by her father. Following her father’s passing in 2018, she assumed the leadership of the party.
Born in the late 1960s in N’Djamena, Beassemda grew up in a politically engaged family. Her father, Beassemda Djebaret Julien, was also active in Chadian politics. After graduating from the University of N’Djamena with a degree in biology in 1994, she continued her studies at Abdou Moumouni University in Nigeria, where she earned a master’s degree in 1996. In pursuit of further education, she pursued studies in Canada, obtaining two DESS diplomas in food production and development planning from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2009.
Beassemda’s career began in October 1998 when she was hired as a technician at Chad’s Nutrition and Food Technology Centre. From 2001 to 2005, she worked on a collaborative research project centered around oil exploitation between Chad and Cameroon (Gramp/TC). During this time, her interest in women’s rights grew steadily. In 2004, she founded Mudesoft, an organization focused on supporting women’s professional development. She later became a coordinator for the Swissaid Foundation (2005–2010) and a liaison officer for the Women’s Associations’ Information and Liaison Group (Celiaf) in 2007. In 2009, she was one of the founding members of Caid (Caisse d’appui aux initiatives de développement). Additionally, she participated in the Oxfam Intermon women’s rights program from 2009 to 2010.
Beassemda’s political aspirations came to the forefront during the legislative elections in 2011, where she ran as a candidate in the third district of N’Djamena. She further solidified her political engagement by participating in the municipal elections in 2012. In 2014, she was appointed as the national secretary of the PDI party, which was established by her father. In 2016, she took charge of her father’s election campaign and assumed leadership of the party following his passing in August 2018.
In May 2018, following governmental reforms, Beassemda was appointed as the Minister of Production, Irrigation, and Agricultural Equipment in Chad. Her leadership in this role demonstrated her commitment to the development and growth of Chad’s agricultural sector. However, it was during the presidential elections in March 2021 that Beassemda left an indelible mark on Chad’s political landscape. As the first woman to run for president in Chad, she broke barriers and paved the way for future female candidates. Although she received only 3.16% of the votes, her candidacy was a significant milestone for women’s representation in Chadian politics.
Following the passing of President Idriss Déby, a military council assumed power in Chad on 20 April 2021. As of 2 May 2021, Beassemda has taken on the role of Minister of Higher Education and Research under Chad’s Transitional Military Council. Her appointment to this position highlights her expertise and dedication to advancing education and research opportunities for Chadian citizens.