Chad gives German ambassador 48 hours to leave country
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After criticism of the Chadian government by Germany's ambassador, N'Djamena orders Berlin's envoy to leave the country.
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Anti-government demonstrators set a barricade on fire during clashes in N'Djamena, Chad, October 20, 2022. (AP)
The Chadian government ordered on Friday German Ambassador Gordon Kricke to leave the country within 48 hours, not providing any reason for the expulsion.
"This decision of the government is motivated by the discourteous attitude and the non-respect of diplomatic customs," the country's Communication Ministry said on Twitter.
"We have not been officially contacted," a source at the German embassy told AFP on condition of anonymity, revealing that he heard the news via social media.
The ministry said on Sunday that the reason for the expulsion of the diplomat was that the German ambassador to Chad, Jan Christian Gordon Kricke, has demonstrated a "discourteous attitude" and a lack of respect for "diplomatic customs."
AFP reported that Chad saw Kricke as "interfering too much" in the governance of the country.
This comes in light of Germany joining France, Spain, and the Netherlands in voicing concern about the "delay in return to democracy" in the Central African Country in light of an ongoing political process there.
Chad saw Kricke as one of the most critical voices of the October 2022 protests when people went out against the government and were met with violence from law enforcement.
Junta extends leadership by two years
General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno took power in April 2021 after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, was killed during an operation against insurgents.
Germany and other Western countries' concern about the so-called "return to democracy" come after Chad's military leadership promised to transition to democratic rule, before extending Deby's rule for another two years in October.
The National Sovereign Inclusive Dialogue (DNIS) forum announced that junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno would remain in office throughout the two-year-long interim phase, ratifying his right to run for the presidency by the time the transition period expires.
This DNIS was launched on August 20 following several delays, during which the country was struggling to initiate peace negotiations among major opposition rebel groups and civil society groups.
Although a number of countries called on Deby to not extend the transition period and to not run for the presidency in the next elections, on June 2021, Deby Itno announced he would extend the transition for another 18 months until Chadians manage to reach an agreement on the way forward.
Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad, one of the world's poorest countries, has experienced periodic revolutions and instability.
Despite criticism, Chad in late January lifted the suspension on opposition parties it imposed three months ago for the purposes of clearing out parties affiliated with foreign rivals.
Read next: Former rebels as ministers: Chad's new unity government
"The period of suspension having come to an end, the seven political parties aforementioned are invited to resume their activities, while now strictly complying with the legislation in force," Minister of Territorial Administration Limane Mahamat said.
Multiple opposition groups had gathered in October to encourage protestors to cause disruption in a country that has already suffered years of political turmoil.
