Why are African leaders reacting to Trump’s ‘shithole’ insult but silent on many others?

US President Donald Trump speaks before a luncheon with US and African leaders at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2017, in New York. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

African leaders have demanded a retraction and apology from United States President Donald Trump who described African countries, Haiti and El Salvador as “shithole” countries during a meeting last Thursday.

Botswana was the first country on the continent to condemn Trump’s unguarded remark which sparked outrage around the world. South Africa among others also expressed their displeasure followed by the Senegalese and Ghanaian presidents who tweeted about their “shock” at the insult.

An unprecedented statement was released by the continental body African Union and African ambassadors to the United Nations. The former condemned the comment in the strongest terms and demanded an “apology to Africans and people of African descent”.

The latter condemned the “outrageous, racist and xenophobic” comment and expressed concern about the “continuing and growing trend from the U.S. administration towards Africa and people of African descent to denigrate the continent and people of colour”.

These reactions are timely and Africans deserve proactive leaders who will come to their defence in such instances. However, many other insulting comments and actions in the recent years have gone by without any statement from African leaders.

The most notable “insults” are the planned expulsion of about 40,000 African refugee-seekers from Israel who have been left with no choice but prison or deportation to Uganda or Rwanda.

These refugees are mainly from Sudan and Eritrea where they are suffering from the political and social instability, yet the Israeli government says it will not accommodate these migrants as refugees but can accommodate them as prisoners.

Another insult is the torture, murder and enslavement of migrants who use Libya as a transit route to reach Europe. Libyan authorities financed by the European Union have locked up migrants in concentrated detention centres under harsh conditions while others have been caught on camera selling some of the migrants into slavery.

These and many more insults did not receive quick reactions from African leaders nor action to protect the lives of fellow Africans.

We cannot forget about the fact that fellow Africans in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions are being tortured and killed by the Paul Biya government for expressing their desires and calling for an end to marginalization. Thousands were killed by the Ethiopian government forces for coming out to demonstrate against ill-treatment and marginalization by the government.

Can the African Union and other leaders issue statements and take action against these injustices in the continent to protect us from further insults and ridicule?

Here are shared sentiments on this perspective:

Africans let’s also use the same energy and outrage and speak in one accord against poverty, corruption, unemployment, racism, tribalism, poor health and education services, lack of democracy and infringement of Human Rights in out countries as we have done with #ShitHole #Africa

— OgadaOndiwo (@CherylSylvia_) January 13, 2018

This article by Ismail Akwei was first published on face2faceafrica.com

#TimesUpTrump: US must smudge this racist roach before it falls into a ‘shithole’

U.S. President Donald Trump

Waking up to another racist rhetoric by Donald Trump, president of the former British colony (United States), against people of color – Africans and Haitians – because they want to exercise their right to migrate to wherever they want, set my mind on fire.

Only a few days apart, he accused Haitians of having AIDS, said Nigerians were living in huts, and now, calling African nations, Haiti and El Salvador “shithole” countries during a meeting on immigration with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House. According to a Washington Post report, Trump questioned:

Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” and “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out.

This is four times too many callous remarks that should go unpunished. America was built on the blood and pain of slaves from Africa and reinvigorated under the tenets of freedom and liberty. Yet, Trump, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, has muddied the struggling immigrant masses with populist shenanigans to appease his racist ego.

Among them are the violation of the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against potential minority renters, calling the Central Park Five (five black and Latino teens wrongly convicted of rape in Central Park in 1989) guilty despite DNA proving them innocent, questioning the authenticity of former President Barack Obama‘s birth certificate, and calling Mexicans drug dealers.

There are more: vowing to ban all Muslims from entering the US and enforcing bans on some Muslim countries, describing Nazis as “very fine people”, endorsing slavery supporter Roy Moore; all in two years after his shocking election victory.

Many Americans are bowing their heads in shame over Trump’s misdemeanour that is tantamount to impeachment per the United States Constitution which allows Congress to remove presidents before their term is up if they committed “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Somali-American politician, Ilhan Omar, who is the representative of Minnesota State said in a tweet after Trump’s racist comments on Thursday: “I am not ashamed of the country where I was born. I am not ashamed to call myself an American now. I am a proud immigrant refugee, Minnesotan, and a proud State Legislator. But make no mistake, I am ashamed, disturbed, and outraged that the leader of the United States can’t see beyond his own embarrassing privilege to embrace the diversity that has made this country great for generations.”

Republican Representative Mia Love of Utah and of Haitian descent said in a tweet: “The President’s comments are unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values. This behavior is unacceptable from the leader of our nation … The President must apologize to both the American people and the nations he so wantonly maligned.”

Here is my statement on the President’s comments today: pic.twitter.com/EdtsFjc2zL

— Rep. Mia Love (@RepMiaLove) January 11, 2018

Should the condemnation continue until he plunges the country into a state of chaos and anarchy? Those in positions of power to effect a positive change in the great nation of America need to decide quickly before it’s too late. Trump’s attitude is equally grave like those of three U.S. presidents subjected to impeachment proceedings.

The heartbreaking silence of African leaders whose countries and citizens are being bullied and demeaned calls for another check on their position and affiliation. Statements are not being issued, boycotts are not being announced and protests are not being held against the mistreatment of people of colour at home and in the U.S. Are they afraid of threats like those issued after the vote against the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital?

To African leaders: for once, please sacrifice the aid usually received under very unfavourable terms for the dignity of your people by speaking up in one spirit against these shameful acts of Donald Trump.

According to news reports, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Paul Altidor condemned Trump’s remark saying:

Haitians fought along U.S. soldiers in the Revolutionary War and we continue to be great contributors to American society.

He added that the comment is a “stereotype” and an “assault” on Haitian citizens and the country’s history, according to Yamiche Alcindor, a PBS NewsHour White House correspondent.

Haiti’s government is reported to have formally requested for a U.S. official to explain the remarks to its officials. Haitians have also sent requests to their embassy in Washington, D.C. seeking an apology.

Aren’t these shameful Trump racist rhetorics good enough reason to take permanent action? We in the “shithole” countries believe in you America. Make us proud.

This article by Ismail Akwei was first published on face2faceafrica.com

This African girl born with blue eyes is a victim of ignorance

Little girl with blue eyes in northern Ghana — Photo Credit: Afi Antonio

Africans and people of African descent have learned with time that there are some characteristics of the white race that appear on some black people on rare occasions.

We came to terms with albinism which is still being described as a curse by some communities in Africa despite adequate education to demystify the congenital disorder.

It is now time to come to terms with the possibility of a black person being born with blue eyes. This is a rare genetic disorder called Waardenburg syndrome that comes with varying degrees of deafness, minor body defects, and pigmentation changes.

This was the fate of little Chogtaa from northern Ghana who is just a year and nine months old and was born with blue eyes and minor hearing loss.

Ghanaian model and entrepreneur Afi Antonio met with Chogtaa’s mother at a clinic where the bubbly girl was undergoing a checkup for her hearing loss.

The mother told Antonio that they drew a lot of negative attention from their family and community who believed Chogtaa was “cursed”, while her playmates branded her a doll.

“Her mum says, she remembers a herbal Dr. telling her once that if u have gonorrhea while pregnant u give birth to such a child. She was actually telling the people seated at her clinic. She laughed and didn’t say anything,” Antonio narrated their story on social media while raising funds to support Chogtaa to undergo surgery for her hearing loss.

Afi Antonio said she is organizing a photo shoot with the little blue-eyed girl whom she is grooming to be a model.

“Waardenburg syndrome is not a curse, there are thousands of people living with this condition all over the world. Let’s take some time to read about it and help educate other mothers and family who might not be aware of its existence,” she advised.

This article by Ismail Akwei was first published on face2faceafrica.com

Botswana shuts down church of pastor who gifted 5-year-old daughter $125k Maserati

South African-based Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri

Botswana has shut down the church operations of self-styled Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri for breaking the country’s laws with his “miracle money” mechanism.

The “miracle money” is a term that refers to the unexplained appearance of money into bank accounts, handbags, and pockets of people “blessed” by the “men of God”.

Botswana Minister Edwin Batshu confirmed on Wednesday that Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church has been closed in the country for “continued violation of the law in terms of fake money,” reports local Malawian media Malawi24.

He called on all the churches including its home meetings to cease their operations.

South African-based Shepherd Bushiri’s freedom to enter Botswana was revoked last year when he was attending a conference in the country. He needs a visa to enter the country.

Reports say the church is appealing the decision.

Last month, controversial Prophet Shepherd Bushiri bought a new Maserati Levante luxury car for his daughter who was turning five on Christmas day.

The four-wheeled gift estimated to cost around $125,760 in South Africa sent chills down the spines of social media users who said it was wrong especially when members of his church cannot afford a three-square meal a day.

He lives a lavish lifestyle believed to be financed by his several churches spread across Africa. Besides the “miracle money”, Bushiri claims to have healing powers and can “walk on air”.

This article by Ismail Akwei was first published on face2faceafrica.com

Ethiopia outlaws adoption of its children by foreigners

Children at a vaccinations clinic near Sululta, Ethiopia, May 2012. — Photo: Yasmin Abubeker/DFID

Ethiopia has finally approved a law tabled last year in parliament banning international child adoption.

The law restricts the adoption of children by foreigners to protect the adoptees from abuse, reports Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The legislation came about after reports of abuse and sometimes the death of children adopted from Ethiopia by foreigners.

In 2013, a U.S. adoptive mother was sentenced to 37 years in prison for starving her Ethiopia-born adopted daughter and leaving her to die outside in the cold in Washington state.

Carri Williams was convicted of homicide by abuse in the 2011 death of 13-year-old Hana Williams, who was adopted in 2008. Her adoptive father Larry Williams was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Ethiopia is estimated to have the highest number of adoptions into US families. Some lawmakers in Ethiopia, however, questioned the availability of proper adoption facilities in the country before the law was passed.

In 2014, Kenya banned all adoptions by foreign adoptive parents.

This article by Ismail Akwei was first published on face2faceafrica.com