African nations shelve Trump apology demand

African leaders nearly demanded this week that U.S. President Donald Trump apologize publicly after he reportedly used an obscenity to refer to some African nations and Haiti last month, according to a draft declaration obtained by the Associated Press. Trump reportedly made the comment last month during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the Oval Office. The draft declaration, created during an African Union summit on Sunday and Monday, said the heads of state and government are “deeply appalled” by Trump’s comparison of African countries to a dirty toilet. The declaration warned Trump’s “racist and xenophobic behavior” risks the strategic partnership between Africa and the United States. But the African Union shelved the declaration after Trump wrote a letter Jan. 25 pledging his “deep respect” for Africa. The president also told them U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make an “extended visit” to the continent in March. Last week, Trump also met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who also serves as the African Union chairman, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.