Botswana condemns disparaging remarks made by U.S. president

GABORONE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's government on Friday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's reported disparaging remarks about developing countries.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, the Botswana government expressed its displeasure at the alleged utterances made by 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.

Botswana calls on the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union and all other progressive nations across the world to strongly condemn the remarks made by President Trump.

The Botswana government has inquired from the U.S. government through the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a "shithole" country given that there are Botswana nationals residing in the U.S., and also that some of Batswana may wish to visit the United States.

"The Government of Botswana is wondering why President Trump, must use this descriptor and derogatory word, when talking about countries with whom the U.S. has had cordial and mutually beneficial bilateral relations for so many years," said the statement. Enditem