The room was packed as Donald Trump gave his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos this afternoon – but there is one man who refused to be there.

South African businessman Bonang Mohale sent an open letter to the US president earlier this week, explaining his disgust after the politician reportedly said African countries were “shitholes”.

Mr Trump has denied he ever used the word.

As a result, Mr Mohale – the head of the organisation Business Leadership South Africa – said he would be boycotting the speech. Many had looked forward to Trump’s speech but Monhale simply stayed away.

Trump also met Rwanda’s Paul Kagame at Davos. Mr Trump told the new head of the African Union: “It’s an honour to have you as a friend.”

Mr Kagame has been credited with restoring peace and economic growth to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.

His critics accuse him of widespread human rights abuses – several Rwandan dissidents have been killed after fleeing into exile.

Trump has asked Kagame to pass on his “warmest regards” to other AU leaders at a mee