Ottawa expels Eritrean diplomat over continuing ‘diaspora tax’

OTTAWA – The Canadian government is expelling the head of Eritrea’s consulate in Toronto over the levying of a “diaspora tax” on Eritrean expatriates

A release from Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Semere Ghebremariam O. Micael has been declared persona non grata and must leave by next Wednesday.

The release says Canada has repeatedly warned Eritrea to “respect international sanctions and Canadian law.”

In December 2011 the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that condemned Eritrea’s use of a tax on expatriates to help the country buy weapons and arm opposition groups.

And last fall Canada issued stiff warnings about a two-per-cent levy being solicited by the Eritrean consulate in Toronto.

The government release says Eritrea is welcome to propose a new candidate for their consular office, but says that person must be prepared to play by the rules and warns that Canada’s “resolve on this matter should not be further tested.”