The German Foreign Ministry on Tuesday ordered Chad’s ambassador in Berlin, Mariam Ali Moussa, to leave the country within 48 hours in response to a similar move made by the West African country last week, reported Reuters.
“In response to the unfounded expulsion of our Ambassador to Chad, we today summoned the Chadian Ambassador in Berlin, Mariam Ali Moussa, and called on her to leave Germany within 48 hours. We regret that it had to come to this,” the ministry said in a tweet.
On Friday, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s Chadian government asked Germany’s ambassador to Chad, Gordon Kricke, to leave the country within 48 hours due to his “impolite attitude” and “lack of respect for diplomatic customs.”
According to two Chadian government sources, Kricke’s expulsion order was announced for his critical comments about delayed elections in the country and the court’s decision to allow interim military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby to run in the elections.
The German ministry said Ambassador Kricke performed his duties in N’Djamena in an exemplary manner & has worked for human rights & the rapid transition to a civilian government in Chad.
Notably, Chad’s ruling military government has set the presidential elections for 2024. Idriss Deby came to power just days after his father and former President Idriss Deby’s death after the 2021 vote. The former president was killed while leading troops against rebel fighters.
Deby’s son, Idriss Deby Itno, currently serves as transitional president and head of the Transitional Military Council that currently plans to rule the elections are held in 2024.
The transitional council has previously set a ballot in the second half of 2022, but, the election was formally delayed last October, prompting public protests.
Deby’s rule was extended for two years, a move boycotted by the opposition as well as main rebelgroups.
The German as well as France, Spain, and The Netherlands embassy came forward and expressed concern over the delayed return to democracy.
