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US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION-AFRICA
African countries demand Trump apology
UNITED NATIONS, United States, Jan 13, 2018 (BSSAFP) – A group of
“extremely appalled” African countries demanded Friday that US President
Donald Trump retract and apologize for his reported denunciation of
immigration from “shithole” nations.
After an emergency session to weigh Trump’s remarks, the group of African
ambassadors to the United Nations said it was “concerned at the continuing
and growing trend from the US administration toward Africa and people of
African descent to denigrate the continent and people of color.”
The group is “extremely appalled at, and strongly condemns the outrageous,
racist and xenophobic remarks by the president of the United States of
America as widely reported by the media,” a statement added, demanding a
“retraction and an apology.”
But they also thanked those Americans “from all walks of life who have
condemned the remarks.”
The resolution was passed unanimously after four hours of discussions.
“For once, we are all on the same page,” an ambassador told AFP.
Trump’s comments were allegedly made on Thursday at a White House meeting
with lawmakers on immigration reform.
After lawmakers raised the issue of protections for immigrants from
African nations, Haiti and El Salvador, the president reportedly demanded to
know why the United States should accept immigrants from “shithole
countries,” rather than — for instance — wealthy and overwhelmingly white
Norway.
He tweeted a convoluted denial Friday in an attempt to quell outrage both
at home and abroad.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0819 hrs