The mayoral race in New York City has taken an unexpected turn as former governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, has publicly criticized socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani for his property ownership in Uganda. In a social media post on X, Cuomo accused Mamdani of hypocrisy for vacationing at his family’s compound in a country with a brutal record against LGBTQIA+ rights. “The no-show assemblyman missed this interview while vacationing at his parents’ compound in Uganda, a country that murders LGBTQIA+ people,” Cuomo wrote.
Cuomo demanded the community “Boycott, Divest, and Sanction” Uganda’s property until the country overturns its discriminatory laws. The call for economic pressure on Uganda has sparked debate about the role of international pressure in human rights issues. Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, has faced criticism for hosting a lavish wedding at his family’s compound there, which was surrounded by armed guards according to a New York Post report. Critics have pointed out the inconsistency in Mamdani’s stance, given his past advocacy for defunding the police. His campaign has faced scrutiny for allegedly hypocritical behavior, with some opponents calling him a hypocrite for his stance on law enforcement while employing extensive security for his personal events.