US President Joe Biden has revealed plans to expel Uganda, Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic from a special US-Africa trade programme.
The president says The countries were involved in “gross violations” of human rights or not making progress towards democratic rule.
President Biden said that Niger and Gabon – both of which are currently under military rule following coups this year – have been ruled out from Agoa because they “have not established, or are not making continual progress toward establishing the protection of democracy and the rule of law”.
He also said that the removal of the Central African republic and Uganda from the programme was due to “gross violations of internationally recognised human rights” by their governments.
In May, the US government said it was considering removing Uganda from Agoa and introducing sanctions on the country after it passed a controversial anti-homosexuality law.
The law, which imposes a death penalty on people found guilty of engaging in certain same-sex acts, has faced global criticism.
Courtesy of BBC