An official diplomatic protest will be done by South Africa to the United States as a result of President Donald Trump’s referring to African nations as “shithole countries,” this was reported by the South African foreign ministry.
The offensive and unprofessional comments were made on Thursday during a bipartisan Oval Office meeting which was meant for the discussion of new immigration policies.
On Friday Trump twitted his first denial saying those words, claiming that he merely used “tough” language in the meeting. After writing his tweet, several lawmakers who were present at the meeting confirmed that the offensive remarks were made by the president.
On Sunday, Trump again denied saying the offensive words to reporters outside the Trump International Golf Course.
“Did you see what various senators in the room said about my comments? They were not made,” Trump said.
CNN reports that South Africa’s government will formally protest to the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria on Monday, the Department of International Relations announced in a statement released to media on Sunday.
“The Department will provide an opportunity to the Charges de Affaires to explain the statement that African countries, alongside Haiti and El Salvador, constitute ‘shitholes’ from where migrants into the United States are undesirable.”
The statement then recognizes Trump’s denial that those words were used, but that Trump’s denial was referring only to Haiti, while for African nations Trump did not deny anything.
“South Africa aligns itself with the statements issued by the African Union and the Africa group of Ambassadors to the United Nations in New York. Africa is united in its affirmation of the dignity of the people of Africa and the African diaspora. Relations between South Africa and the United States, and between the rest of Africa and the United States, must be based on mutual respect and understanding,” the statement continues.
According to CNN, Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said that the top U.S. diplomats in South Africa and Ghana had been summoned to meet with the governments on Monday.
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