President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office confirmed on Saturday that South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, had been expelled. This expulsion marks a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries since Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
In a media statement, the Presidency acknowledged the regrettable expulsion of Ambassador Rasool and urged all relevant stakeholders to maintain diplomatic decorum in addressing the matter. Despite this setback, South Africa reiterated its commitment to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States.
The expulsion came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to social media to declare that Ambassador Rasool was no longer welcome in the US. Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who harbors animosity towards America and President Trump, branding him as “PERSONA NON GRATA.”
The strained relations between the two countries escalated when Trump announced in early February that he was suspending all aid to South Africa due to alleged discriminatory legislation against whites. Trump even offered white Afrikaners refugee status in the US. This decision was fueled by Trump’s claims that South Africa was confiscating land and mistreating certain classes of people, leading to the enactment of an executive order cutting aid.
Ambassador Rasool, a vocal critic of Trump, previously served as South Africa’s top envoy to the US from 2010 to 2015 before being redeployed this year. With Washington yet to appoint a new envoy to Pretoria following the resignation of former ambassador Reuben Brigety, speculations arise that Joel Pollak, an editor-at-large for Breitbart and a vocal critic of the South African government, could succeed Brigety.
Rubio’s declaration that Rasool was unwelcome in the US was accompanied by a Breitbart article authored by Pollak, where Rasool allegedly accused Trump of leading a white supremacist movement. This statement was reportedly made at a foreign policy seminar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Johannesburg.
Despite initial efforts to mend relations, the South African government revised its approach and shifted focus towards engaging the Trump administration on trade. This change in strategy came after President Ramaphosa’s firm stance against policies labeled as “anti-Americanism” by the Trump administration, particularly regarding South Africa’s actions against US ally Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The expulsion of Ambassador Rasool underscores the heightened tensions between South Africa and the United States, highlighting the complexities of diplomatic relations in the current global landscape.
