Petition to declare US ambassador to Namibia persona non grata gains over 500 signatures

The petition, titled 'Declare the US Ambassador Persona non Grata in Namibia,' was launched online and quickly received 100 signatures within its first hour. Amushelelo states that Namibia's recent oil discoveries have made it a focal point for powerful nations, and he opposes what he perceives as an encroachment on the country's natural resources. He emphasizes that diplomats should respect Namibia's sovereignty and warns against the exploitation of Namibia by foreign diplomats, which he believes endangers the nation's resources and autonomy.

Amushelelo plans to send the petition to president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, urging Giordano's departure from Namibia. He clarified that the petition is not against ordinary US citizens but is a political demand concerning the conduct and representation of a foreign government within Namibia. Former diplomat Pius Dunaiski commented that declaring a diplomat persona non grata would be an "extremely serious" action, typically reserved for serious concerns about a diplomat's conduct or Namibia's interests, not a "political popularity contest."

He noted that while the petition reflects public sentiment, it does not necessarily indicate a fundamentally broken Namibia-US relationship. The US embassy in Namibia acknowledged awareness of the petition but declined further comment.