NAIROBI- Egypt has involved in a dispute with African diplomats after they accused an Egyptian official of referring to “dogs and slaves” in a session during the recent UN environment assembly meeting in Nairobi.
A Kenyan diplomat Yvonne Khamati, chairwoman of the Africa Diplomatic Corp Technical Committee, has written to the dean of the Africa Diplomatic Corps to protest by saying an unnamed Egyptian official made the “uncivilised, undiplomatic, irresponsible, degrading and insulting behavior” last week at the end of the UN Environment Assembly.
She has also asked for an apology and demanded that Egypt be banned from representing African interests “in any negotiations” as a result of the allegations, which sparked outcry on social media.
Mrs Khamati wrote on Twitter that.”He spoke to his delegation in Arabic referring Sub-Saharan Africa as dogs and slaves in the presence of African delegates that understand Arabic.”
An “immediate investigation” into the allegations has been ordered, said the Cairo foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry.
But it expressed its “complete rejection of any attempts to cast doubt on it belonging to Africa and its perpetual defence of the continent’s interests”.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a Statement that. “It is completely unacceptable to make the mistake of generalising and making flimsy accusations against the Egyptian state and people that cast doubt on its African identity.”