Chad FM accuses Qatar of hosting hostile groups to its government

CAIRO – 24 August 2017: Chad Foreign Minister Ibrahim Hussein Taha claimed in statements Thursday to the ON Live television channel that Qatar is hosting number of groups known to be hostile to his country.

“We are still trying to build our country and work on our development,” Taha said, adding that Doha’s government has been supporting hostile groups that target his state’s stability.

On August 23, Chad decided to close Qatar's embassy and give its diplomats 10 days to leave the country, due to allegations that the gas-rich country is trying to destabilize the state’s stability through its Libyan neighbor, according to Reuters.

Chad’s decision comes months after Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, hurling allegations that the state supports terrorism. Ports and airspace were cut off to Qatari vessels.

On June 6, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Sabah started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.

A list of 13 demands was given to Doha’s government by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain for reconciliation, which includes the closing of Al Jazeera broadcasting. However, Qatar’s response was described as “negative” by the four countries’ foreign ministers in a joint statement released after holding a summit in Cairo July 5.