Tag: africa
South Africa Summons US Envoy To Protest Trump’s Racist Conspiracy Tweet

South Africa Summons US Envoy To Protest Trump’s Racist Conspiracy Tweet

Reprinted with permission from Shareblue.

 

Trump’s decision to promote a racist conspiracy theory has sparked a diplomatic confrontation, requiring South Africa to summon America’s most senior diplomat there to set the record straight.

Earlier this week, after watching a segment on Fox News, Trump tweeted that he has “asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.”

South Africa’s government summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires Jessye Lapenn to “convey the unhappiness of the people” over Trump’s tweet.

Trump’s tweet was based on “false information,” the South African government says, and served “only to polarize debate on this sensitive and crucial matter.”

The government also said it was “disappointed” in Trump’s failure to use the existing diplomatic channels to discuss issues.

The entire story is based on a conspiracy theory popularized by white supremacists that farmers are facing a form of “white genocide” in South Africa, as purported retribution for the racist policies of the apartheid regime.

Investigators who have analyzed crime data in South Africa have debunked the conspiracy, which has inflamed racial tensions in a country that has long struggled over racial divisiveness.

Trump has come to the table with his own bigotry, and through the presidency has created problems for South Africa as they have been working to heal them.

The tweet thrilled many of the racists who form Trump’s base, but as is so often the case with his off-handed decisions, the fallout and repercussions have far-reaching effects.

Now Trump has forced the U.S. State Department in a baseless conspiracy theory that involves the highest levels of South Africa’s government — a government that now has to clean up a mess Trump created by impulsively tweeting while watching Fox.

Published with permission of The American Independent.

Entire Continent Of Africa Demands Retraction From Racist Trump

Entire Continent Of Africa Demands Retraction From Racist Trump

Reprinted with permission from Shareblue.com

The African Union, an organization that represents the entire continent of Africa, blasted Donald Trump on Friday for his recent remarks calling African nations “shithole countries.”

“The African Union Mission wishes to express its infuriation, disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr. Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, which remarks dishonor the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity,” the union said in a statement.

The statement was released after Trump told a group of senators that the U.S. immigration system should be changed to allow fewer people from “shithole countries” during a discussion about El Salvador, Haiti, and African nations. He also said the U.S. should let more people in from countries like Norway.

The White House does not deny that Trump used this vulgar language, and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who was at the meeting, confirmed the comments Friday morning.

In their statement, the African Union also demanded that Trump formally retract the statement and deliver “an apology not only to the Africans but to all people of African descent around the globe.”

The rebuke from the African Union comes amid a slew of international condemnations.

Ebba Kalondo, spokeswoman for African Union chief Moussa Faki, said Trump’s comments were “clearly” racist.

“Comparing [migrants’] desirability in such vulgar, disparaging and, indeed, racist language is not only dangerous but frankly unthinkable for the leader of a land basically built on migration,” Kalondo said in an interview with FRANCE 24.

Also on Friday, the United Nations human rights office rejected Trump’s comments, referring to them as “racist“.

In a separate statement, United Nations ambassadors from every country on the continent demanded a retraction and apology from Trump.

The group of UN ambassadors said it was “extremely appalled” by Trump’s remarks, referring to them as “outrageous, racist and xenophobic.” The group also extended its thanks to those Americans who had condemned the remarks.

Trump has done a lot of despicable things as president, but managing to get on the bad side of an entire continent is a new low — even for him.