Kenyans and Nigerians expressed dismay on Thursday (May 22) following U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, where false claims about white genocide dominated the conversation.

What was intended as a diplomatic reset instead became a contentious exchange, with Trump confronting Ramaphosa with false claims that South Africa's white minority farmers are being systematically murdered and having their land seized.

African observers viewed the interaction as disrespectful to South Africa's sovereignty. In Nigeria, some described the allegations as "uncalled for" and characterized the exchange as bullying of South Africans and African people more broadly.

Kenyan residents similarly criticized what they perceived as unnecessary humiliation of an African head of state, questioning Trump's selective use of information. Some suggested African leaders should reconsider visits to the White House altogether, arguing that the power dynamic inherently disadvantages African interests.

South African officials defended Ramaphosa's composed approach. Data from South Africa contradicts claims of white genocide, with statistics showing that while crime affects all South Africans, white farmers make up less than 1% of total murder victims.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. TRAFFIC ON ABUJA STREET

2. VARIOUS OF BUSINESSMAN, BASIL ESSENGEF, WATCHING VIDEO OF U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, MEETING WITH SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, ON PHONE

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUSINESSMAN, BASIL ESSENGEF, SAYING:

"The allegations that were raised yesterday in the meeting that they had yesterday, for me I feel that those allegations were uncalled for, because it is like they are bullying the South Africans and also African people."

3. PARKING LOT

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL POLITICIAN, SAFIYAT HARUNA, SAYING:

"For me I think there are no evidence to this thing and you don't just hear from one person and conclude because you have authority or you have the power backing you so I just feel they should be heard, both parties should be heard before any conclusions should be made."

NAIROBI, KENYA (MAY 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

5. VARIOUS OF UHURU HIGHWAY

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NAIROBI RESIDENT, KEVIN MADARA, SAYING:

"But the humiliation that he received from Donald Trump wasn't necessary, or we would say that it wasn't the right thing, because South Africa is an independent country. It's a sovereign nation. He's also leading his own people, a people they can always decide on what to do, based on the policies and the constitution. So the fact that Donald Trump wanted to humiliate him in front of the cameras, pulling even the videos, playing videos of the CIC, of EFF, playing the chants of 'kill the boer, kill the farmer,' that was not right, because does he have all the statistics of the white farmers who have been killed? He could not display the farmers who have been killed. "

KIAMBU, KENYA (MAY 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. VARIOUS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, NDUNGI GITHUKU, AND OTHERS WATCHING VIDEO OF TRUMP AND RAMAPHOSA ON PHONE

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, NDUNGI GITHUKU, SAYING:

"So, why Trump is doing this is because he comes from a showbiz background of doing reality shows and he thinks that ruling America is a reality show, it is not. America and Americans are saying they are being embarrassed by their president. So, for Trump to try and embarrass an African president, I think what he should do is to come here so that we show him videos of white people in South Africa pinning a black man in a coffin and later putting him ablaze. Why is he not showing that video? We have seen the video, we know the video and we know so many other videos of black people being dragged by white farmers trucks on tarmac; humiliation of black people."

9. GITHUKU SHOWING VIDEO ON MOBILE PHONE

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, NDUNGI GITHUKU, SAYING:

"What I think about black presidents: please stop going to the White House. What are you going to get there? It is America which comes to Africa to get resources. Why don't they come we sit on a table here in Africa? What are you going to do in the White House, in a house that you don't own? You don't own the menu. You cannot dictate what you will have for dinner. Dinner will be served very cold by the owner of the house. Trump is the owner of the white house for now."

11. VARIOUS OF ROAD AROUND MWIMUTO SHOPPING CENTER