78 former U.S. Ambassadors write Trump over Shithole slur

The ripples generated by President Donald Trump’s alleged disparaging comments continued on Tuesday with 78 former United States Ambassadors who served in Africa writing the president to remind him about the continent’s great exploits and potentials.

“Africa is a continent of great human talent and rich diversity, as well as extraordinary beauty and almost unparalleled natural resources,” the former senior diplomats said in a joint statement delivered at the White House Tuesday. “It is also a continent with deep historical ties with the United States.”

The statement came days after Mr. Trump reportedly derided Africa, Haiti and El Salvador in a meeting about immigration policy in the White House.

Mr. Trump reportedly singled out Haiti, El Salvador and parts of Africa as “shithole countries” during the January 11 meeting, according to U.S. media.

Media reports said Mr. Trump favoured immigrants from Norway and Asia, saying they help the country economically.

But he wondered “why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” “Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out,” the Washington Post quoted Mr. Trump as venting.

But the president denied ever describing any race as coming from “shithole countries” in a January 12 tweet.

“Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems. I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record meetings – unfortunately, no trust!” Mr. Trump said.

Several African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, have protested the alleged comments by Mr. Trump and summoned the U.S. top diplomats in their countries.

The AllAfrica Media published the reaction of the 78 former American top diplomats to the controversy on Wednesday morning.

“As American ambassadors abroad, we have seen Africa’s complex and rich cultures, awe-inspiring resilience, and breathtaking generosity and compassion.

“Even as some nations have faced challenges, we have counted among our contacts dynamic entrepreneurs, gifted artists, committed activists, passionate conservationists, and brilliant educators,” the former ambassadors, who served in 48 different countries on the continent said.

“We learned of novel solutions to complex problems, helped American companies find partners critical to their success, and counted on African military and intelligence officials who often assumed real risks to help achieve outcomes critical to our shared security.

“We know that respectful engagement with these countries is a vital part of protecting our own national interests. The United States of America is safer, healthier, more prosperous, and better equipped to solve problems that confront all of humanity when we work with, listen to, and learn from our African partners.

“We also know that the entire world is richer because of the contributions of Africans, including the many Americans of African descent.

“It was one of the greatest honors of our lives to represent the United States of America abroad. It was also a privilege to live in and learn from the diverse and spectacular countries of Africa,” they added.

The former diplomats urged Mr. Trump to reevaluate his perception of Africa and its people going forward.

“We hope that you will reassess your views on Africa and its citizens, and recognize the important contributions Africans and African Americans have made and continue to make to our country, our history, and the enduring bonds that will always link Africa and the United States.”

The 78 former ambassadors who signed the statement are listed as follows:

Mark L. Asquino – Equatorial Guinea

Shirley E. Barnes – Madagascar

William (Mark) Bellamy – Kenya

Eric D. Benjaminson – Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe

Michele Thoren Bond – Lesotho

Parker W. Borg – Mali

Aurelia E. Brazeal – Kenya, Ethiopia

Pamela Bridgewater – Benin, Ghana

Reuben E. Brigety II – African Union

Kenneth L. Brown – Ivory Coast, Ghana, Republic of the Congo

Steven A. Browning – Malawi, Uganda

Edward P. Brynn – Burkina Faso, Ghana

John Campbell – Nigeria

Katherine Canavan – Botswana

Timothy Carney – Sudan

Johnnie Carson – Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

Phillip Carter – Ivory Coast, Guinea-Conakry

Herman Cohen – Senegal, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

Frances D. Cook – Burundi, Cameroon

Walter L. Cutler – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tunisia

Jeffrey S. Davidow – Zambia

Ruth A. Davis – Benin, Director General of the Foreign Service

Scott H. DeLisi – Uganda, Eritrea

Christopher Dell – Angola, Zimbabwe, Deputy Ambassador at AFRICOM

Harriet Elam-Thomas – Senegal, Guinea-Bissau

Gregory W. Engle – Togo

James F. Entwistle – Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Robert A. Flaten – Rwanda

Robert S. Ford – Algeria

Patrick Gaspard – South Africa

Michelle D. Gavin – Botswana

Donald H. Gips – South Africa

Gordon Gray – Tunisia

Robert E. Gribben – Central African Republic, Rwanda

Patricia McMahon Hawkins – Togo

Karl Hofmann – Togo

Patricia M. Haslach – Ethiopia

Genta Hawkins Holmes – Namibia

Robert G. Houdek – Uganda, Eritrea

Michael S. Hoza – Cameroon

Vicki J. Huddleston – Madagascar, Mali

Janice L. Jacobs – Senegal

Howard F. Jeter – Botswana, Nigeria

Dennis C. Jett – Mozambique

Jimmy J. Kolker – Burkina Faso, Uganda

Edward Gibson Lanpher – Zimbabwe

Dawn M. Liberi – Burundi

Princeton N. Lyman – Nigeria, South Africa

Jackson McDonald – The Gambia, Guinea

James D. McGee – Swaziland, Madagascar, Comoros, Zimbabwe

Roger A. Meece – Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Gillian Milovanovic – Mali

Susan D. Page – South Sudan

David Passage – Botswana

Edward J. Perkins – Liberia, South Africa, Director General of the Foreign Service

Robert C. Perry – Central African Republic

Thomas R. Pickering – Nigeria

Jo Ellen Powell – Mauritania

Nancy Powell – Uganda, Ghana

Anthony Quainton – Central African Republic

Elizabeth Raspolic – Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe

Charles A. Ray – Zimbabwe

Fernando E. Rondon – Madagascar, Comoros

Richard A. Roth – Senegal, Guinea-Bissau

Robin Renee Sanders – Republic of the Congo, Nigeria

Mattie R. Sharpless – Central African Republic

David H. Shinn – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia

A. Ellen Shippy – Malawi

George M. Staples – Rwanda, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Director General of the Foreign Service

Linda Thomas-Greenfield – Liberia, Director General of the Foreign Service, Assistant Secretary of State for
African Affairs

Jacob Walles – Tunisia

Lannon Walker – Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast

Melissa F. Wells – Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Zaire (Congo-Kinshasa)

Joseph C. Wilson – Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe

Frank G. Wisner – Zambia, Egypt

John M. Yates – Cape Verde, Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Permanent Charge (3 years) Zaire, Special
Envoy for Somalia

Mary Carlin Yates – Burundi, Ghana, Sudan

Johnny Young – Sierra Leone, Togo.

(Premium Times)