The Minister of Foreign Affairs Lesotho said it was “disappointing” to hear the president Donald Trump Say that no one has ever heard of the small African country during their Congress speech on Tuesday.
“It is surprising and disappointing that he said that nobody knows the Lesotho,” Minister Lejone Mpotjoane said on Wednesday, one day after Trump made the disdainful remark that generated a laughter by the American Congress.
“He should speak for himself and not to generalize,” continued Mpotjoane, adding that he thought that the president targeted Lesotho because he is not rich but warned that one day America could turn to him to support.
During 100 minutes longTrump made fun of his own mention of the landlocked nation, which is surrounded by South Africa, questioning why the United States has foreign assistance contracts with the country.
“Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI + in the African nation of Lesotho, which no one has ever heard of,” said Trump, while vice-president JD Vance and Chamber Mike Johnson made smiles behind the podium.
Lesotho is a long -standing beneficiary of American financial aid. For almost two decades, he received funds via USAID, which sent more than $ 44 million last year.
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Asked about Trump’s commentary on the promotion of LGBTQ2 + rights to Lesotho, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that he was not aware of the aforementioned contract of $ 8 million because the financing of the USAID is mainly distributed through non -governmental organizations.
Despite Trump’s nonchalant dismissal of the country’s existence, Elon Musk has close ties with Lesotho.
Musk, who heads the new government efficiency department (DOGE), met the Prime Minister of Lesotho Sam Matekane last September to discuss the Starlink access establishment for the country’s 2.3 million inhabitants.
Peak linka subsidiary of Spacexis the Musk Internet satellite supplier and asked for a license to operate at Lesotho.
The Lesotho Communications Authority confirmed in February that it had received the Starlink offer for a 10 -year license.
On September 24, Matekane shared photos taken during a meeting with Musk. “An exciting developments await us,” he wrote.
The company bids to earn contracts in many African countries and is already Available on a large part of the continentIncluding Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, which is located approximately 491 km north of the capital of Lesotho, Maseru, where there is also an Embassy of the United States.
– with files from the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, A Division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
