German Foreign Minister makes degrading comments about Africa
The story of Africa must be told authentically by Africans themselves, without the intervention of a third party who has never experienced the difficulties we have gone through on this continent. It’s shocking to see the levels of stupidity and prejudice, regardless of race. We have the Russian Foreign Minister who travels around Africa as part of his international diplomacy, trying to forge links and relationships. On the other hand, the German Foreign Ministry is making degrading comments, claiming that the Russian minister is not going to Africa to meet leopards, but to assert lies in order to discredit Ukraine’s partners.
African reaction to Germany’s inappropriate behavior
As a result, the reaction on Twitter was swift. Representative Ebba Kalondo, spokeswoman for the Chairman of the African Union, responded sharply by tweeting on the German government’s account, wondering whether Africa, its people and its wildlife are just a joke to Europe. She pointed out that when the head of the German government came to Africa to talk to the African countries with which Germany has diplomatic relations, it wasn’t about seeing animals, but about discussing diplomacy. Similarly, an Internet user, Ousmane Moumouni reacted by saying: “I hope the person who wrote this tweet was drunk while he was writing. Unbelievable. Shocking. Shocking.
The degree of racism, denigration and disrespect in the German Foreign Minister’s comments is shocking. Going to Africa doesn’t just mean going to see wild animals, but also engaging in political, economic and diplomatic discussions. It is unacceptable to consider Africa as a mere animal show.
Read more: US accusations against South Africa put Germany on alert
Racism must be banned
It’s also important to remember that Africa is not a playground for degrading stereotypes. Using these stereotypes to support geopolitical interests or to harm an opponent in a European war won’t win you any friends in Africa. The racism openly displayed by certain European personalities is unacceptable. However, the German Foreign Minister apologized for having used a leopard emoji towards the Russian minister, acknowledging that this act had offended many Africans.
So it’s vital that Africans understand the political stakes and strategies currently at play. We must avoid falling into the traps of those who seek to divide us and destroy us morally and emotionally. It’s encouraging to see Africans standing up and speaking out against these injustices. It’s time to break the silence and claim our dignity. Africans must no longer remain passive.
What’s more, Africa cannot be reduced to clichés and prejudices. We must resist these attacks and speak out to tell our story with pride. Colonialism is not a thing of the past, and racism persists. If we don’t respect ourselves, we can’t demand respect from others.
The need to recognize our value
We must not allow degrading insinuations about Africa to spread and become normalized. When we accept minor insults and disrespect, we open the door to more serious attacks. It’s essential to bear in mind that Africa should not be seen as a joke, but as a continent rich in history, culture, resources and potential.
So we must stand up to those who seek to denigrate and divide us. Africans need to speak up and tell their own story. We can’t let a third party define what Africa is. We’re much more than wild animals and simplistic clichés. Africa is a mosaic of fauna, flora, traditions, cultures, people, passion, land, resilience and intelligence.
It’s time to defend our dignity and make our voices heard. The history of Africa must be masterfully written by Africans themselves.
Moreover, history shows that when Europe is in crisis, Africa is also affected, whether directly or indirectly. We’re all interconnected in today’s world, and a global war would have repercussions on every continent, including Africa. So Europe needs Africans, because their voice matters. It cannot make decisions today without going through Africa, to at least have the moral freedom to justify its actions.
Totally inspired by Zack Mwekassa’s video
