Germany on Tuesday ordered Chad’s Ambassador Mariam Ali Moussa to leave the country, in response to the central African nation’s expulsion last week of the German ambassador.
General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno on Friday ordered German Ambassador Gordon Kricke to leave the country within 48 hours, citing his “discourteous attitude” and accusing him of disrespecting diplomatic customs. The Chadian government gave no further details about the reason for his removal.
Kricke arrived in Germany on Sunday after having been seen off at the airport in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital, by several colleagues.
Germany hit back on Tuesday against what it described as “the unfounded expulsion of our ambassador.” Chad’s ambassador in Berlin, Mariam Ali Moussa, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and given 48 hours to leave Germany.
“We regret that it had to come to this,” the ministry said in a tweet. “Ambassador Kricke carried out his job in N’Djamena in an exemplary manner and advocated for human rights and the quick transition to a civilian government in Chad.”
It added that Germany’s embassy in Chad would continue this work “together with our partners on the ground.” Other lower-ranking German diplomats are still in N’Djamena.
Media reports suggest that criticism of Chad’s transitional government may be the motivation for the expulsion of the German ambassador.
General Itno was named in 2021, as Chad’s interim leader, however, last year, the government announced it was extending the transition originally meant for 18 months for two more years, which led to protests across the country.
