Romania Recalls Ambassador to Kenya over Racist Remarks

Romania recalled Dragos Tigau, its ambassador to Kenya, over an incident in April this year. Apparently, Dragos Tigau made those remarks while talking to other colleagues from different European Embassies while attending an international event.

While inside the United Nations building in Kenya’s capital on April 26, a monkey appeared at the conference room window. “The African group has joined us,” he said, according to a note from the South Sudanese embassy in Kenya seen by AFP. Witnesses stated that no African group was present in the conference room at that time, so the remark was clearly referring to the animal at the window.

Calling Africans monkeys is not only a serious diplomatic incident, as it came from the Ambassador, but also an insult to all the African peoples in the region.

In a formal letter, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its regret over the incident.

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions that regrettably, contrary to the institution’s rules, including those of conduct and ethics, the Romanian Ambassador to Kenya did not inform the MFA headquarters about the incident that took place at the end of April 2023. Romanian ambassador to Kenya should return to Romania as soon as possible, and the MFA’s internal Control and Diplomatic Evaluation Unit should immediately scan the necessary procedures, including the establishment of necessary internal measures to be taken in the given situation. We deeply regret this situation and offer our apologies to all those who have been affected; any behaviours or comments of a racist nature are completely unacceptable. We hope it will not affect ties with African countries.

Romanian MFA over the ambassador to Kenya incident

Also, according to the official press release, Dragos Tigau has apologized for the incident, including in written form. According to sources, the African diplomats expect public apologies from the Romanian ambassador.

Racism is visible in Romania; if one lives in the country long enough, one will notice it. Although billions in European funds poured over the country in the last decade to combat this situation, racism remained a problem, acknowledged by NGOs and individuals but not bluntly admitted by authorities.

But here we talk about the quality of Romania’s diplomatic corps. It’s also visible that the MFA – Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is not at its peak, diplomatically speaking. Also, its personnel seems to have missed basic training and diplomacy classes.

Without proper training and lacking valuable people, there is no wonder why other countries, including neighbouring Bulgaria, Hungary or Moldova, are way ahead regarding influence in the region.

Romania seems to be a mere spectator to what other nations accomplish regarding diplomacy. The incident in discussion is the best possible explanation for the country’s failures so far.

Romania’s ties with African countries won’t probably be affected to such an extent that it will matter. Still, all African nations will look differently at Romanian diplomats from now on. On one good sunshine day, all this will probably matter.