Botswana summons US Ambassador over Trump 'shithole' outburst
Staff Writer | Friday January 12, 2018 14:30
“The Ministry of International Affairs & Cooperation wishes to inform the public and the international community that the Government of Botswana, today summoned the US Ambassador to Botswana to express its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by the President of the US, Donald Trump, when he referred to African countries and others as “shithole countries” during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House on Thursday 11 January 2018,” said the statement.
Government also wanted Ambassador Miller to “clarify if Botswana is regarded as a “shithole” country given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the US, and also that some of Batswana may wish to visit the US.”
The statement further says Botswana views Trump’s utterances as “highly irresponsible, reprehensible and racist.”
“Botswana calls on SADC, the African Union and all other progressive nations across the world to strongly condemn the remarks made by President Trump,” said the release.
Trump has reportedly lashed out at immigrants asking US lawmakers on Thursday, 'Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?'
The remark, made during talks on an immigration deal, was apparently in reference to people from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.