In a terse, two‑line statement, Chad’s Communication Ministry ordered German Ambassador Jan‑Christian Gordon Kricke to leave the country within 48 hours, citing his “impolite attitude” and “lack of respect for diplomatic customs.” Kricke, who has served as Germany’s ambassador to Chad since 2021, received the notice on Friday. The ministry’s brief announcement did not elaborate on the reasons for his expulsion.
The German Foreign Office said the justification provided by Chad was unclear and that it was in contact with the Chadian government. “The reasons that the government of Chad put forward as a justification for declaring our ambassador in N’Djamena a persona non grata are completely incomprehensible,” a spokesperson told DW.
According to a source in the Chadian government, reported by AFP, Kricke was perceived as “interfering too much” and making divisive remarks, and he had been warned on several occasions. Chad has been ruled by a transitional military government led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno since April 2021. Although the junta initially pledged to hand over power by October 2022, it has since extended the deadline by another two years and has violently suppressed opposition demonstrations.
The German Embassy joined France, Spain, the Netherlands and others in expressing concern over the delayed return to democracy in Chad. (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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