Several African news sites report that Romania’s ambassador to Kenya, Dragos Viorel Tigaureportedly found himself at the center of a racist scandal over comments he made in April during a meeting at the United Nations.

Viorel Tigau (right)Photo: Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP / Profimedia

It would all begin with the fact that during a discussion with a group of diplomats from Eastern Europe, the Romanian ambassador would say “an African group has joined us”, noticing a black monkey nearby, writes KenyanForeignPolicy.com.

however, the source cited indicates that the African group was not in the room, and no clear source from the room is cited, nor is any recording played.

“This must have created a link between the presence of the monkey and a group of African diplomats who were not present during the meeting,” the quoted source wrote.

KenyanForeignPolicy.com also says the comment, which was perceived by some at the meeting as insensitive and disrespectful, prompted a group of African diplomats to seek clarification and appeal to the relevant authorities.

Sources close to the African Group said both the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian ambassador had been informed.

In addition, efforts were made to engage the UN Office in Nairobi to obtain further clarification and action in response to the alleged remark.

However, the Director-General of the UN Office in Nairobi, Zainab Bangura, was accused of her office’s “laxity” in handling the issue.

The Kenyan Post reports that Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau said the remarks were “intolerable and unacceptable in any era, let alone the 21st century in Nairobi”.

In a post on Twitter, Kamau condemned what he called attempts to cover up the incident.

“I am appalled and disgusted to learn of some remarks made by the Ambassador of Romania in Nairobi, who called members of the African Group monkeys during a meeting of the Eastern European Group. It’s a complete disgrace to try to cover up this disgrace,” he said.

Kenyan Foreign Policy writes that it has officially contacted the Romanian ambassador to comment on the allegations, but he would not respond to an email.

TRT Afrika also picked up on the topic.