Romanian Ambassador in Kenya Compares Africans to Monkeys

Romania will recall its ambassador Dragoș Viorel Tișcă from Kenya after the diplomat compared African diplomats to monkeys. This was reported by CNN and the BBC, referencing a statement from Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As the BBC notes, on April 26, during a meeting at the UN building in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Tișcă allegedly remarked upon seeing monkeys outside the window, saying, "we have been joined by an African group."

Following the incident, the spokesperson for Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kamau Macharia, stated on Twitter that he was "shocked and offended" by the incident. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official apology to Kenyan authorities and announced that the process of recalling their ambassador had begun.

"We deeply regret this situation and apologize to all affected. Any racist behavior or comment is absolutely unacceptable," the ministry's statement said. Following the incident, the Romanian ambassador also issued an apology, including a written one, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.