Are we a “shithole” country: diamond-rich Botswana stands up to Donald Trump

The mineral-rich country of Botswana has come out against US President Donald Trump’s remarks labelling African countries, Haiti and El Salvador as “shithole countries,” becoming the first African country to stand up to the the flamboyant American leader.

“The Botswana Government has also enquired from the US government through the Ambassador, to clarify if Botswana is regarded as a shithole country...,” a statement issued by African country’s Ministry of International Affairs said on Friday.

“The Government of Botswana is wondering why President Trump, must use this descriptor and derogatory word, when talking about countries, with whom US has had cordial and mutually beneficial bilateral relations for so many years,” the statement also said.

The resource-rich nation in Africa's south, with one of the highest GDP per capita on the continent, also summoned the American Ambassador to the nation to clarify on President Trump’s remarks, the statement informed.

During a meeting on immigration with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday, Trump had questioned officials why the US was having immigrants from “shithole countries.”

The remarks were first reported by Washington Post, which cited officials present at the meeting. The 55-nation African Union, of which Botswana is a part, labelled the comment as “clearly racist.

”The remarks were also condemned by the United Nations and the Vatican, with the Catholic nation-state branding Trump’s remarks as “particularly harsh and offensive.”