Chad severs diplomatic ties with Qatar

By Enes Canli

TUNIS (AA) - Chad has cut its diplomatic ties with Qatar, a Foreign Ministry statement announced Wednesday.

The Central African country cited national and regional security concerns as reasons behind the move.

“Chad calls on Qatar to stop all activities aimed at destabilizing Chad and its surrounding countries, [and it urged Qatar to] preserve peace and security in the region.”

Chad also ended its diplomatic representation in Doha, recalling its personnel back home.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen all abruptly cut diplomatic relations with Doha, accusing it of meddling in their domestic affairs and supporting terrorist groups.

Mauritania followed suit shortly afterward, while Jordan downgraded its diplomatic representation in Doha.

Saudi Arabia also sealed its land border with Qatar, geographically isolating the tiny Gulf nation.

Doha, for its part, strenuously denies it is a supporter of terrorism, describing the moves to isolate it as “unjustified” and in breach of international law.