Namibia condemns U.S President Trump's demeaning remarks

WINDHOEK, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has joined other African countries in condemning the U.S. President Donald Trump's disparaging remarks about developing countries.

Trump caused a global outrage when his demeaning comments about Haiti and immigrants during a meeting at the Oval Office were reported in the American media last week.

Namibia's international relations permanent secretary Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said in a statement Saturday that Trump's language "does not contribute to international cooperation."

"The Africa we know and live in is one that is recovering economically and raising," Ashipala-Musavyi, adding that Namibia had learned with disgust and reprehension about the alleged derogatory remarks.

Such language, Ashipala-Musavyi further said, has no place in diplomatic discourse and is contrary to the norms of civility and human progress.

Commending those Americans who have disassociated themselves from Trump's derogatory remarks, Ashipala-Musavyi reminded Trump that the U.S. was built with blood and sweat of African slaves and immigrants from all over.

"Namibia, while associating itself with the tweeted Africa Union official statement, condemns these utterances and calls on the international community to reject racism in all forms," she said.

African Union (AU) spokesperson Ebba Kalondo has been quoted saying that Trump's statement "flies in the face of all accepted behaviour and practice."

"Given the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves, this statement flies in the face of all accepted behaviour and practice," Kalondo said.

Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation announced Friday that they had summoned the U.S. ambassador to express displeasure with Trump's remarks.

The statement that was seen by Xinhua also said the U.S. ambassador was asked to clarify if Botswana falls into the category of Trump's remarks.

"Botswana calls on SADC, the AU and all other progressive nations across the world to strongly condemn the remarks made by President Trump," the statement said. Enditem