Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said “nothing has changed” between the US and 54 African nations despite President Donald Trump’s alleged comment calling them and others “s***hole countries” last week.

"At this stage, nothing has changed with respect to our relationship with African nations and we continue to see them wanting to strengthen our relationship," Mr Tillerson told Buzzfeed News.

The President reportedly said that immigrants from Africa and Haiti come from “s***hole countries” and wondered why the US does not have more immigrants from places like Norway, the prime minister of which he had just hosted at the White House.

Mr Trump has denied making the remarks, which attributed to the President by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, during a meeting with Congressional leaders from both parties to discuss immigration policy.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in response that “the President hasn't said he didn't use strong language, and this is an important issue, he's passionate about it, he's not going to apologise for trying to fix our immigration system."

Mr Tillerson said that the US hosted a “very successful” conference of African nations and the African Union and the parties “explored both economic issues but explored shared security issues.”

Saturday Night Live lay into Donald Trump's 's***hole' comment

"As you know, African nations, one of their greatest concerns is counterterrorism," Mr Tillerson added.

However, the Trump administration slighted one of its most robust African counter-terrorism partnerships by placing a travel ban on people from Chad.

Africa Rising - in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Africa Rising - in pictures Africa Rising - in pictures Men using the natural Bogolan dyeing technique, which is an ancient craft tradition in the Niger River, particularly Mali. By Le Ndomo / Boubacar Doumbia. Photography by Adriaan Louw / Design Network Africa Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures An art piece by South African-born artists Athi-Patra Ruga. Photography by Adam McConnachie, Courtesy of Athi-Patra Ruga and WHATIFTHEWORLD Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures An image from C-Stunners by Nairobi-based artist Cyrus Kabiru. The phrames were made using scraps of disused technology. Photography by SMAC Gallery, South Africa Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Flurina Rothenberger published in the magazine 'I love to dress like I am coming from somewhere and I have a place to go'. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures From the photographic series Proud Women of Africa: Rainbow Girls, which captures the lesbians of South African townships of Gugulethu and Khayelitsha who have been disowned by their families. Photography by : Magic Group Media, Amsterdam, NL Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Babylonstoren, where guests partake in curated dining experiences. Most of the food is planted and cultivated on the farm. Photography by Babylonstoren Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Work by The Nest Collective which spans film, music, fashion and visual arts. Photography by Phyllis Galembo Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Phyllis Galembo, who documented the clothing of people across Nigeria, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Architecture by Kunlé Adeyemi / NLÉ Photography by Reze Bonna. In collaboration with Makoko Waterfront Community, Blok Kats van Veen architecten, Dykstra Naval Architects, Thieu Besselink, Roel Bosch architecten, Urhahn + Borra, Pieters Bouwtechniek, Ikeyi & Arifayan, Matrix Design & Works Nig Ltd., Solarmate Engineering Nig Ltd. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures A collaboration between Amandine David and Marie Douel, inspired by Burkina Faso. Photography by Émile Barret / Hors Pistes Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Photography by Héctor Mediavilla, whose photo series the SAPE Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant People captures the dandies of Congo. Gestalten 2016 Africa Rising - in pictures Fantasma, a 'superband' formed in 2014 by producer and rapper Spoek Mathambo who recruited members from acros South Africa. Photography by Fantasma Gestalten 2016

The administration left experts baffled when it said the reason for the Sahel region country’s inclusion was because Chad failed to “adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information.”

Chad assists in the fight against Isis-West Africa, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.

Since Mr Trump’s alleged “s***hole countries” comment Nigeria, Botswana, Senegal, South Africa, Haiti, and Ghana have all called in American diplomats to explain what Mr Trump meant by his supposed comment.

Botswana issued a statement calling the President’s alleged comments “"irresponsible, reprehensible, and racist” and asking the US to “clarify” what he meant by it.