The most naked fact about controversial U.S President Donald Trump is that he is overtly racist and harbours strong contempt towards people who are not Caucasian. His contempt for Africa is a well documented fact beyond any reasonable doubt - he once called the African continent a "shit-hole." For him, Africa is a land without any say or any right to partake in how global events are shaped.
The U.S president recently made some remarks during a political campaign in Ohio saying that he was supposed to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ahead of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Talking to his supporters he said, "I'm going to tell you about the Nobel Peace Prize, I'll tell you about that. I made a deal, I saved a country, and I just heard that the head of that country is now getting the Nobel Peace Prize for saving the country. I said: 'What, did I have something to do with it?' Yeah, but you know, that's the way it is. As long as we know, that's all that matters... I saved a big war, I've saved a couple of them."
Apart from that, he also said that the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, was a demonstration of "American injustice." What he failed to take into consideration is that his thirst for war and conflict to flex American imperialism is an antithesis to the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize.
What Trump did was discrediting the valiant efforts initiated by Abiy Ahmed in the hopes of thawing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea which had lasted for decades. Ahmed was recognized for "achieve peace and international cooperation" after he ended a 20-year military stalemate with Eritrea following their 1998-2000 border war. His peace-building efforts did not go unnoticed. At the time he won, the Norwegian Nobel Committee honoured him for his "decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea."
Abiy Ahmed liberalized Ethiopia when he got into power; a political terrain that was marked with repression. He introduced reforms that included freeing thousands of political prisoners and he allowed exiled dissidents to return home. Media spaces were also liberalized, and this included some blocked websites being launched again.
Now, Trump is imposing the idea that the United States played a crucial role in easing the tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, but that is not the case. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) played a more key role in the peace negotiations due to its influence in the Horn of Africa. Saudi Arabia also played an instrumental role.
Trump's remarks reveal his true attitude - a disdain for Africa as a whole and its leaders. Even if commendable efforts are coming out of Africa, they mean little to Trump. That he thinks he was supposed to get the prize reveals his zero interest with Africa. He utterly detests Africa and would not stand Africans being honoured on global stages. Such honour should be the exclusive preserve of white leaders like him, that is what he thinks. His putrefied stance on Africa is the reason why African leaders should wake up and start working towards self reliance. Trump is known for threatening action against countries that go against his whims for example cutting aid.
Such imperialist attitudes will not lessen Ahmed's contributions to peace in the Horn of Africa region. To be told this by a president who fails to pronounce the names of some African countries is an embarrassment. Perhaps he should leave Africa out of his controversy episodes which he had much affinity to.
Header image credit - Geo.tv