Chad has asked the United Nations not to renew the mandate of the world body's mission in the central African country in March, Reuters quoted a Chadian official as saying today. "We have officially notified the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General of our wish to not renew MINURCAT's mandate," said General Oky Dagache, Chadian President Idriss Deby's representative to the MINURCAT, as the U.N. mission in Chad is known. Dagache declined to give an immediate reason, but a U.N. source in Chad suggested the request may be a tactical move aimed at reforming the force's mandate. "The mandate of MINURCAT is due for renewal by 15 March 2010," said a U.N. spokesman in New York. "Following standard practice in such situations, we are consulting on the matter with the host government -- the government of Chad, Security Council members, troop and police contributing countries and other relevant partners," he said. "Nothing has been confirmed yet."
