African leaders nearly demanded public apology from Trump
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African leaders this week came close to demanding that President Donald Trump publicly apologize for his vulgar remark about the continent "that defies all forms of diplomatic etiquette," according to a draft declaration obtained by The Associated Press.
The draft, created during an African Union summit on Sunday and Monday, says heads of state and government are "deeply appalled" by Trump's reported comparison of African countries to a dirty toilet.
It warns that the strategic partnership between Africa and the US is at risk because of Trump's "racist and xenophobic behavior."
The African leaders appear to have changed their minds on issuing the draft declaration because of a Trump letter to them last week pledging his "deep respect" and saying Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would make an "extended visit" to the continent in March, his first in that role. The letter emerged after Trump met with Rwanda's president and new African Union chairman Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week.
