African civil society under the auspices of the Economic,
Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) has asked Mr.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States to tender unserved apology to
Africans over his latest lambasting of the continent and tagged it a
‘shithole,’ reports ITRealms.
A press statement made available to ITRealms ECOSOCC said, they received
with utter shock the news of the uncouth words used by the President of the
United States in reference to African people and people of African descent.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the racist undertones of
this language and the clear expression of naivety about the place, role and
value of African people by the President of the United States,” the group said.
In Africa, they said, elders are highly respected and the
language that elders use should be respectful as well to befit the positions
that they hold.
The President of the United States, they said, should be an
elder and should exude wisdom, deep respect of cultural and social diversity
and value of humanity, describing as unfortunate, that the President seems to
be depicting the contrary.
“We therefore call upon all citizens and peoples groups,
religious and faith leaders, private sector and professional organizations,
academics and civic actors in the US and Africa to condemn this language in the
strongest terms,” they said.
Citizens across the world, ECOSOCC noted, should be
respected for what they are and referred to in appropriate and respectful
language.
“To continue to propagate racism through language in the
world, is to fuel other types of violent behaviors that we see around the
world,” they said.
ECOSOCC therefore, asked US President to seriously consider
withdrawing the controversial statement
and issue a public apology to the all Africans and people of African descent in
the world.
“The President should note that the social, economic and
cultural contributions of Africans in the United States is one of the highest
in the world,” they declared.
Stressing that the United States has a big number of African
people in a diversity of professions that do not fit the despicable description
used by the US President.
In addition, they said, that one of the Agenda 2063
Aspirations developed by African people and its leaders is: An Africa with a
strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.
ECOSOCC, they said is as an organ that promotes and
popularizes the Agenda 2063 and strives to build an Africa and world that is
ethical and value-based. We therefore call upon the President of the United
States to embrace this aspiration and other progressive and positive
aspirations of the African people.
African civil society and ECOSOCC therefore joins the rest
of the world to condemn the language of US President.
We call upon the President of the United States to restrain
himself as well as educate himself about the world and its people and ensure
that he espouses the values that the United States people have been known for
over the ages.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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