Proof that words can be as strong as weapons: An Egyptian diplomat is under fire for allegedly making racist remarks at the closing session of last week’s United Nations Environment Assembly meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
“During our consultation with Egypt, the head of the Egyptian delegation and current President of AMCEN [African Ministerial Conference on the Environment] dismissed our concerns by informing that they would speak in their sovereign capacity and to that extent, referred to Sub-Saharan Africa as DOGS AND SLAVES, in Arabic,” Kenyan diplomat Yvonne Khamati wrote in an official memo addressed to the Dean of the Africa Diplomatic Corps.
The AMCEN president is Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy, however, a statement issued by Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs today argued that Fahmy was not even present at the meeting in question. According to Al Arabiya, the statement also claims that the Egyptian representatives present did not use those words and that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has launched an investigation into the matter.
“It is unacceptable to fall into the trap of generalization and direct flimsy accusations against the state of Egypt, its people and its African identity as well as its ability to assume its responsibilities in championing African interests,” the Egyptian statement said.
Khamati, Chair of the Africa Diplomatic Corps Technical Committee, is demanding an official apology from Egypt “at the highest level” and Egypt’s resignation from AMCEN’s presidency.
“Africa has lost trust and faith in their [Egypt’s] leadership and we do not believe that they have the moral standing to represent the interest of Africa in ANY negotiations,” she continued in her two-page memo.
The comments were allegedly made after divisions arose over a certain environmental resolution concerning Gaza. Most delegates had left and the minimum number of votes required to officially pass the resolution was not met. According to Khamati, the Moroccan and Egyptian delegations thus wanted to nullify the resolution and a few of the African delegations tried to convince them otherwise, which is when the Egyptian diplomat in question switched to Arabic and referred to the others as “dogs and slaves”.
The remarks have sparked a debate on Twitter about racism against black Africans, with colonialist undertones.
Many also expressed apologies, condemning the reported remarks, with the hashtag #SorryAfrica trending throughout the day.
Khamati also stressed that she did not view the racist comments as representative of Egyptians as a whole.
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Correction: This article, when first published, wrongly stated that it was the Egyptian Minister of Environment, Khaled Fahmy, who made the remarks. Khamati’s memo refers to the “President of AMCEN”, which is Fahmy. However, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement today refuting Khamati’s claims, arguing that Fahmy was not present at the meeting in question. The article has since been updated to include Egypt’s statement.