President Donald Trump of the United States has consistently antagonized many people outside of his country—and that does not mean he had not been the subject of vilification from his own countrymen.
Trump’s recent controversial comment is about what he believes is a problem involving immigrants to the United States, particularly those from Africa. He referred to Africa as a “sh*thole,” which is obviously a derogatory word.
As expected, leaders and spokesmen of many countries in the African continent protested President Trump’s remark, and called it a racist remark. They are demanding an apology from the American president.
Trump’s remark was uncalled for, not only for the defamatory character of what he said, but particularly because he is the leader of what is arguably the most influential country in the world. His statements are disseminated by the international media. Understandably, African nations which have friendly ties with the United States were offended by what Trump said.
The social media indicate that President Trump has supporters in America who believe that, the “sh*thole” statement, aside, Africa has always been a problematic continent in recent history. They cite, among others, the civil wars that ravage the continent, and other reasons.
For instance, Rwanda’s civil war, which has caused famine and deprivation in that country, is a result of the intense rivalry among its many tribes. Relief goods sent to Rwanda by international charitable agencies and meant for everyone in Rwanda regardless of tribal affiliation are held by a tribe in power, and are not given to other tribes. Many of Rwanda’s leaders even prefer to destroy relief goods rather than distribute them to their rival tribes.
The same problem exists in Sudan, as it did in Uganda under the despot Idi Amin, who ruled his country with an iron fist, and who afforded privileged treatment to members of his tribe.
Idi Amin was known to eat the body parts of some of his enemies. When Arab terrorists hijacked an Israeli airliner and held it at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, Amin openly supported the terrorists who made hostages of the Israeli airline passengers. After Israeli commandos rescued the hostages at the Entebbe Airport days later, a furious Amin ordered the execution of an elderly Israeli woman who was being treated in a local hospital and was left behind after the rescue.
Jean-Bedel Bokassa of the Central African Republic once renamed his country the Central African Empire. In 1976, he had himself crowned emperor in a lavish ceremony that obliterated his country’s treasury. A publication revealed that when the food during the coronation banquet proved insufficient, the emperor ordered the execution of several political prisoners, had them cooked, and eventually had them served to his unsuspecting guests.
Nigeria is currently run by a military dictatorship. It used to be Africa’s richest nation due to its large deposits of diamonds, but the military dictatorship ran the economy to the ground. The military does not tolerate dissent, and harsh punishment awaits anyone who opposes the military dictatorship.
In the 1990s, many Nigerians engaged in international scams to entice greedy individuals, including many Filipinos, to participate in get-rich schemes. A victim is notified by electronic communication by a Nigerian who claims that he has access to millions of dollars of government funds held by a Nigerian bank which will release the funds only to a legitimate overseas investor.
The Nigerian racketeer then tells his prospective victim that the latter can get about twenty percent of the entire fund, provided the victim pretends to be a legitimate businessman, and provided further that the victim will wire some funds to a Nigerian bank account, which will be used to prepare “the needed documentation” to facilitate the release of the funds. As soon as the money is wired by the victim, the Nigerian ceases all communications.
Late last year, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s overstaying dictator since 1980, was finally ousted from power by a military coup. During his reign, Mugabe kept his people in dire poverty while he and his wife lived in unconscionable luxury. His top political rival was beaten up in public prior to an election.
For several years now, pirates based in the southeast side of the continent harass oil tankers going to and coming from the Middle East. These pirates seize the tankers and hold the crew hostages. Their piracy contributes to the high cost of gasoline today.
The African continent also hosts a number of Arab nations like Egypt and Libya.
Egypt had its own dictatorship in the person of Hosni Mubarak, who succeeded President Anwar Sadat in 1981 after the latter was assassinated by the military. Mubarak made himself president for life, and his son practically owned every viable business in the country.
Libya had its Muammar Gaddafi, an overly ambitious army colonel who seized power in a military coup in 1969. He became a dictator and used his country’s vast petroleum resources to eliminate political opposition, and to finance terrorist organizations the world over.
In the 1970s, the Libyan dictator financed the Muslim insurgency in Mindanao. He was also behind the highly publicized bombing of an airliner which ultimately crashed over the United Kingdom, when he was at the height of his absolute power.
Gaddafi’s sons were notorious for abusing their power. They raped many women, who were often abducted on sight in the streets of Tripoli, the Libyan capital.
A revolution finally toppled Gaddafi and his family in 2011. The dictator was executed by a very angry mob. Many Arabs were pleased to see him go.
The problematic events in Africa, however, do not justify the “sh*thole” remark which President Trump made in public. If Trump was callous enough to do that, it is possible that he may eventually make some nasty remarks about the many Filipinos in America.