A United States diplomat in Nairobi has resigned and faulted President Donald Trump over his human rights record.
Elizabeth Shackelford resigned on Friday through a letter published by Foreign Policy, faulting Trump’s recent pivot away from global diplomacy and their abandoning of human rights protections across the world.
"President Trump’s dismissive attitude toward human rights was no surprise following his campaign, but your May 3 remarks to Department staff shocked many as you called into question the utility of advancing human rights when it proves inconvenient.
"As a foreign policy professional, I understand better than most that we must balance competing interests, but human rights and democracy are fundamental elements of a safer world for our people," her letter stated.
[caption caption="US Diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford during a mission"]
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Ms Shackelford, an award-winning US diplomat expressed her frustration and anger that was felt by many at the State Department who were being marginalised and forced out by Trump's administration.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson claimed the move is an effort to downsize the agency aimed to make it more efficient.
However, the result, Shackelford noted, had been a troubling weakening of the US diplomatic capabilities.
The letter further maintained that the diplomatic corps did not have an influence to the Pentagon “at the behest of the White House but to our detriment as a nation.”
A senior official told Foreign Policy that Shackelford “was one of the most promising officers” in the Foreign Service.
[caption caption="US President Donald Trump"]
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Other colleagues remarked that her departure reflected of a lack of confidence at the State Department and its related agencies in both Tillerson and Trump.
