By Abiola Olawale
Tensions between the United States and South Africa have continued to escalate as the US government expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool.
The expulsion came following accusations from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the diplomat allegedly “hates” both US President Donald Trump and America itself.
Rubio announced the decision late Friday, declaring Rasool “persona non grata” in a press statement posted on X.
Labelling the ambassador a “race-baiting politician,” Rubio accused Rasool of allegedly harbouring what he described as “deep animosity toward the US and its leadership.”
The New Diplomat reports that Rasool, a diplomat and former anti-apartheid activist, has served as South Africa’s ambassador to the US since 2020, marking his second stint in the role after a previous tenure from 2010 to 2015.
In a swift response, South Africa condemned the expulsion, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a “mutually beneficial relationship” with the United States.
In a statement issued on Saturday South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office expressed disappointment over the decision, calling it a setback to bilateral relations.
The statement reads in part: “The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool.”
The New Diplomat reports that expulsion comes against a backdrop of strained ties between South Africa and the US.
In recent months, the Trump administration has taken punitive measures against South Africa, including freezing aid over concerns about the country’s land reform policies.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that South Africa is allegedly “confiscating” land from white farmers.
These statements have drawn sharp rebukes from South African leaders, who accuse the US of meddling in their domestic affairs.
The Expropriation Act signed by Ramaphosa in January is reported to allow the government to seize land without compensation under certain circumstances, in a bid to address decades-long inequality brewed by the apartheid era.
