The Chadian government announced yesterday, Friday, that it has requested the German ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours, due to his "rude behavior and disrespect for diplomatic practices."

The government spokesperson Aziz Mohamed Saleh said in a statement that the government "requests Jan Christian Gordon Kricke, the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, to leave Chadian territory within 48 hours."

For his part, a source at the German Foreign Ministry told the French news agency that "the reasons that led the Chadian government to declare the ambassador persona non grata are never understood. They are in contact with the Chadian government on this matter."

Kricke was appointed ambassador to Chad in July 2021, after holding similar positions in Niger, Angola, and the Philippines. He was also Germany’s special representative for the Sahel region.

Also, a Chadian government source told the French news agency that the authorities particularly hold against the diplomat his "excessive interference" in the affairs of the "country's administration," as well as "his statements that tend to divide the Chadians," confirming that Kricke has previously received several "warnings."

Mohamed Idriss Déby Itno came to the presidency of Chad in April 2021, after the announcement of the death of his father Idriss Déby Itno while on the front line fighting rebels, following three decades in power.

Mohamed Déby promised the Chadians and the international community to hand over power to civilians through "free and democratic elections," and not to run for the presidency.

In October, a national dialogue was held, boycotted by a wide spectrum of the opposition and civil society, who denounced the "hereditary succession," and Déby was appointed "transitional" president for two years, ending with "transparent" elections.

The German embassy joined its voice to the embassies of France, Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as the European Union, to express their "concern" after extending the transitional period and opening the door to the possibility of Déby running for the presidency.