African civil society adds voice to global condemnation of Trump’s ‘shithole remarks’

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 16 (Infosplusgabon) - The African civil society on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump of the United States to restrain himself as well as educate himself about the world and its people and ensure that he espouses the values that the United States people have been known for over the ages.

 

Condemning, in the strongest terms, Mr. Trump’s racist undertones and his “clear expression of naivety about the place, role and value of African people”, the African civil society under the auspices of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union said it was shocked by his “shithole remarks” last week.

 

In a statement issued in Addis Ababa at the AU headquarters, the African civil society said it “received with utter shock the news of the uncouth words used by the President of the United States in reference to African people and people of African descent.”

 

The statement went on: “In Africa we highly respect elders and the language that elders use should be respectful and one that befits the positions that they hold. The President of the United States should be an elder and should exude wisdom, deep respect of cultural and social diversity and value of humanity. But, unfortunately, the President of the United States seems to be depicting the contrary!

 

“We therefore call upon all citizens’ and peoples’ groups, religious and faith leaders, private sector and professional organizations, academics and civic actors in the US and Africa to condemn this language in the strongest terms.

 

“Citizens across the world should be respected for what they are and referred to in appropriate and respectful language. To continue to propagate racism through language is to fuel other types of violent behaviours that we see around the world.”

 

In addition, the African civil society has asked the US President to seriously consider withdrawing the statement attributed to him last week and issue a public apology to all Africans and people of African descent in the world.

 

“The President should note that the social, economic and cultural contribution of Africans in the United States is one of the highest in the world. The United States has a big number of African people in a diversity of professions that do not fit the despicable description used by the US President,” the African civil society stressed.

 

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/ITY/GABON 2018

 

 

 

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