Leader removes inflammatory social media post amid ruling party criticism

The nation’s leader reportedly removed an inflammatory social media post that depicted former officials as primates, according to sources, following an unusual wave of public criticism from senior members of his own ruling party.

The post allegedly appeared on the leader’s preferred social media platform Thursday evening and went largely unnoticed until a prominent lawmaker from the ruling faction - notably the only Black member of the upper chamber’s majority - publicly demanded its removal.

Observers described the content as depicting the country’s former head of state and his spouse in a derogatory manner that many characterized as racially inflammatory. The imagery reportedly showed the former first couple as monkeys or apes, sparking immediate condemnation.

“Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this executive residence,” the senior lawmaker stated, according to reports. “The leader should remove it.”

His reaction allegedly opened a floodgate of responses from other ruling party legislators, who reportedly rejected the presidential compound’s initial explanation for the content.

“This is totally unacceptable,” another senior lawmaker from the ruling faction said on social media, according to sources. “The leader should take it down and apologize.”

The executive residence’s press secretary reportedly attempted to characterize the post as a “meme” that was part of a video depicting the current leader as a character from a popular animated film. However, critics within the ruling party dismissed this explanation.

“Even if this was a themed meme, a reasonable person sees the racist context to this,” a member of the upper chamber from the ruling faction reportedly stated. “The executive compound should do what anyone does when they make a mistake: remove this and apologize.”

Sources indicate it took several hours for the post to be removed from the platform. A presidential advisor allegedly told media outlets that “the leader did not see the video before it was posted.”

The controversy represents a rare instance of public criticism from within the ruling party, observers note. The lawmaker who initially called for the post’s removal has maintained a notably warm relationship with the current leader, according to sources, and rarely breaks ranks with the administration.

The critic now heads the ruling party’s campaign arm for the upper chamber, tasked with maintaining the faction’s narrow majority in that body. He was reportedly considered for the deputy leadership position before the current leader ultimately selected a different ally.

Opposition leaders also condemned the post, with the minority leader in the upper chamber calling it “racist, vile, and abhorrent,” according to reports. The opposition figure demanded an immediate apology to the former officials, describing them as “great citizens” in contrast to what he characterized as the current leader’s behavior.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the nation’s political discourse, as the country continues to grapple with racial divisions that have long characterized its political landscape. Such controversies have become increasingly common in the nation’s polarized political environment, observers note.

The executive residence did not immediately respond to requests for comment from media outlets, according to reports.