Controversy in Swearing-In of New Chad Government: Christian Minister Refuses to Swear by "Allah", Another Refuses to Swear by Scripture

Madeleine Alingué, the new Chadian Minister of Postal Services, New Technologies, Information, and Communications, aroused controversy in the swearing-in ceremony of the Chadian government, when she insisted on saying the word "God" instead of "Allah." The initial decision to reject her oath was rescinded because, in the words of the President of the Supreme Court, "'Allah' and 'God' both refer to the Creator." It should be noted that several ministers then followed suit and used the word "God" instead of "Allah." However, when Djibergui Rosine Amane, the designated Minister of Civil Aviation, Transport, and National Meteorology, deviated from protocol even further and requested to be sworn in by "a solemn pledge before God and the nation," since she was "not permitted to swear," the Supreme Court President, rejected her request and replaced her. The video was posted on the YouTube channel of Télé Chad on May 11.

Following is a transcript:

President of Supreme Court: [I invite] the Minister of Postal Services, New Technologies, Information, and Communications, and spokesperson for the government, Madame Madeleine Alingué.

Madeleine Alingué: I, Madeleine Alingué, swear in the name of God Almighty to be loyal to my work and to not betray…

President of Supreme Court: Excuse me… Go back and say it in the proper form:  “I swear in the name of Allah the Almighty.”

Madeleine Alingué: I swear in the name of God Almighty…

President of Supreme Court: Please, this is the established formula, as accepted by the three religious faiths. Either you repeat the oath as is, or you take your leave, Madame Minister.

Madeleine Alingué: Thank you.

[Takes her seat]

President of Supreme Court: Let us proceed to the next one…

[…]

[Five minutes later…]

President of Supreme Court: Since “Allah” and “God” both refer to the Creator, we invite Madame Madeleine Alingué to return to be sworn in.

[…]

Madeleine Alingué: I, Madeleine Alingué, swear in the name of God Almighty to be loyal to my work and to not betray my nation and my people, to not misappropriate public funds, to not reveal state secrets, and to respect the commitments of the code of ethics of the government.

President of Supreme Court: Thank you.

[…]

President of Supreme Court: [I invite] the Minister of Civil Aviation, Transport, and National Meteorology, Madame Djibergui Rosine Amane.

[…]

Djibergui Rosine Amane: Mr. President of the Supreme Court, with your permission, I will make a solemn pledge before God and the nation, and sign the code of ethics. Otherwise, I am not permitted to swear.

President of Supreme Court: The court takes note of your refusal. No, you will take the oath prescribed by the Constitution.

[Madame Amane takes her seat]

[…]