Social media users are reacting to a photo of mostly African presidents or lesser world leaders being driven to Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral as US President Joe Biden rode in his Beast.
The African Presidents driven in the bus included newly sworn in Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The funeral was attended by about 2,000 people. These included nearly 500 top leaders from Commonwealth nations or countries that are proud of having been colonized by Britain.
While African presidents would not ordinarily board buses, choosing instead to ride in expensive imported vehicles and convoys as their citizens wallow in poverty, they were told they would expected to board buses or coaches as the means of transport to the funeral.
A number of them obliged (did they have any choice if they wanted to attend the funeral?) and were seen being driven in buses.
And while lesser world leaders used shared transport (buses) to travel to Westminster Abbey, the world most powerful man, United States of America leader Biden rode in his Beast.
The Beast was flown to London so that Biden could use it for travel to the venue. Biden was just among the few world leaders allowed to use such exclusive means of transport.
Here are some reactions to the African presidents and lesser world leaders bus transport vs Biden’s:
Enjoy 'Tondeka' our leaders pic.twitter.com/O4mEF636oz
— Daraus Bahikire ,MPH 🇺🇬 (@DarausBahikire) September 19, 2022
African presidents on their way to #queensfuneral pic.twitter.com/2XxxuoGhjn
— ⭐️ ⭐️ 🌟 (@IgumiraB) September 19, 2022
African Presidents attending the Queen’s burial being ferried around in a bus like high school students from my home town Mbarara going for a trip to Didi’s world (amusement park), Kansanga. pic.twitter.com/hwW13I2iIV
— Canary Mugume (@CanaryMugume) September 19, 2022
African presidents in Buckingham Palace getting lunch pic.twitter.com/lEDZnGkiRu
— 🎤 (@justvicci) September 19, 2022
Next week! Journalists at the airport
Journalist: how was the UK Trip?
African presidents: pic.twitter.com/Kbt2yh8fun
— Bevalyne Kwamboka (@bevalynekwambo3) September 19, 2022
