Nigeria, July 14 -- Ostensibly, it was meant to be a compliment of sorts. But it has backfired massively all over Africa. US President Donald Trump had invited five West African presidents to the White House to discuss "trade instead of aid." While there were various speculations with regard to the real reason behind the invitation - especially as the continental giants, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt were not invited - no one expected that the talking point for African journalists and their publics at the end of the parley would revolve around the perceived disrespect of the African leaders.

It happened after the brief speech by the Liberian President Joseph Boakai, who President Trump complimented saying, "Where did you learn to speak...