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Tayo Olanipekun
U.S.Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs,Robert Scot, has said the recent excoriating comments of the U.S.President Donald Trump on the continent notwithstanding, African countries will still partner with the U.S. in addressing the North Korean issue.
He said his country has “very strong relationships across the continent” which remain unchanged.
Scot spoke yesterday in Washington D.C.at a conference on North Korea and Africa to shed light on the United States government’s foreign policy on North Korea and their activities in Africa.
“I think we have very strong relationships across the continent, and those remain unchanged,” Scot replied when asked why African countries should listen to and cooperate with a country whose leader described them in vulgar terrms.
He noted that in Novembe 2017, 37 ministerial-level delegations visited Washington for a day to be with Secretary Rex Tillerson and that the Deputy Secretary also ttraveled to the continent recently while Tillerson is also expected to travel to Africa in the coming months, “to visit multiple companies.”
Scot said his country sees “a strong engagement” in Africa and will use same, as well as “those strong relationships,” to partner with countries on the continent to address the issue of North Korea.
About half a dozen African countries have taken explicit steps in response to the UN Security Council Resolutions, he added.
“We remain engaged through our ambassadors and capitals. I think we’ve got a very positive sense of momentum on this issue across Africa, and one that we’re going to dedicate ourselves to continuing,”according to Scot.
President Trump had described the African countries as a “shithole” during a meeting with government officials over immigration issue,expressing his preference for immigrants from Norway.
Some African countries,including Nigeria, have since summoned the U.S.Ambassadors in their respective countries for clarification on the purported vulgar language of President Trump.
