Racist remark
Romanian ambassador withdrawn from Kenya after monkey comparison
Romanian diplomat Dragos Viorel Tigau reportedly made racist remarks at a meeting at the United Nations building in Nairobi
© Xinhua / Imago Images
A racist comment by the Romanian ambassador to Kenya led to a scandal between the two countries. The Romanian Foreign Ministry apologizes and withdraws the diplomat Dragos Viorel Tigau.
The Romanian ambassador, Dragos Viorel Tigau, is to be withdrawn from Kenya after a monkey comparison. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated the procedure for recall, is explained in a press release. “The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs deeply regrets this situation, apologizes to all those affected and condemns all behavior and attitudes that are not based on mutual respect.” Any behavior or comments of a racist nature are totally unacceptable.
At a meeting with other representatives of Eastern European countries in the United Nations building in Nairobi, Dragos Viorel Tigau is said to have made racist remarks. According to reports, a monkey appeared at the window of the conference room, whereupon the diplomat commented on the situation with the words: “The African delegation has joined us”.
The Foreign Ministry only claims to have learned about the incident in Kenya weeks later
The incident happened on April 26, but according to the statement, the Romanian Foreign Ministry only found out about it last week. At this point, Tigau is said to have apologized in writing to his ministry. The apology was not made public.
Macharia Kamau, a Kenyan diplomat at the Foreign Ministry, clearly criticized the choice of words on Twitter. He was disgusted and appalled: “It is a disgrace that attempts are being made to cover up this disgrace. This is intolerable and unacceptable in any age, let alone 21st century Nairobi!”
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In the course of this, the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest announced that the behavior of the diplomat did not reflect the behavior or attitudes of the entire institution: “The ministry expresses its hope that this isolated incident will not affect the close ties between Romania and African countries will,” the statement said.
Sources: Foreign Ministry press release“political“, Twitter Macharia Kamau