The image came from a video that showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, hosted the president of South Africa at the White House and threatened more stringent tariffs against the European Union this week.

Mr Ramaphosa kept his cool. But the episode underlined Donald Trump’s warped views of South Africa—and how hard it will be to change them. The Trump administration has cut aid to Africa’s largest economy and seems set to cancel the preferential trade terms enjoyed by South Africa (and many other countries in the continent).

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa broke up stern trade talks at the White House with a joke about wishing he had a gift for the president.