Togo Votes With US Over Jerusalem Move

by PH December 23, 2017, 7:30 am

FILE - In this Friday, April 21, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks at the Treasury Department in Washington, where he signed an executive order to review tax regulations set last year by his predecessor, as well as two memos to potentially reconsider major elements of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reforms passed in the wake of the Great Recession. While Republicans in Congress craft a bill to unwind the tighter financial rules that took effect after the 2008 crisis, President Donald Trump is looking in another, seemingly opposite direction: He's entertaining the idea of restoring the Depression-era firewall between commercial banking and its riskier investment side. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Togo was the only African state to vote against a UN General Assembly resolution effectively calling on the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Many African states – including South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia – voted for the resolution, while others – such as Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan – abstained.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump warned he might cut financial aid to states who voted in favour of the resolution while the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US would be “taking names” and “watching carefully” how countries voted.

Botswana – a staunch US ally – dismissed the threat, saying it would not be “intimidated” as it voted in favour of the resolution.

Togo was one of only nine states to vote against it. The others were Israel, Guatemala, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the US.