Jean Bernard Padaré, the President of Chad’s Constitutional Council, publicly announced his conversion to Islam on Friday, April 11, 2025, during a ceremony at the Martyrs’ Mosque, also known as the “President’s Mosque,” in N’Djamena. Following his conversion, he revealed that he has changed his name to Yahya Padaré, describing the move as a major milestone in his personal and spiritual journey.
Yahya Padaré is a well-known figure in Chadian politics. He started his career as a lawyer, gaining recognition for his work in human rights advocacy and high-profile legal cases. He later held key government positions, including Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seal, before serving as a regional governor.
His appointment as President of the Constitutional Council placed him at the helm of the nation’s highest judicial body, which is tasked with ensuring the constitutionality of laws and regulations and making final decisions on electoral and referendum matters.
Meanwhile, Chadian authorities also announced that around 7,000 individuals and 60 local leaders in the southern regions of the country have recently embraced Islam.