The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician” who harbors anti-American sentiments and dislikes President Donald Trump.
The move marks a significant deterioration in U.S.-South Africa relations, which have been strained since Trump cut financial aid to South Africa over disagreements on land policy and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Rubio announced the expulsion on social media platform X, stating, “South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
South Africa’s presidency expressed regret over the expulsion, stating that it remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States. Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, confirmed that the government would address the issue through diplomatic channels.
Rasool, who began his tenure by presenting his credentials to then-President Joe Biden in January, has reportedly struggled to secure meetings with U.S. State Department officials and key Republican figures since Trump took office. His pro-Palestinian views and criticism of Israel are believed to have contributed to his isolation.
The Heightened Tensions In South Africa Over Land Policy and Israel
The expulsion comes amid ongoing tensions over South Africa’s land reform policies and its stance on Israel. Trump has repeatedly criticized South Africa’s land policy, claiming without evidence that the government is confiscating land and treating certain groups unfairly.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a bill in January aimed at making it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest, sometimes without compensation. Ramaphosa defended the policy, stating that it aims to address racial disparities in land ownership in the Black-majority nation and that no land has been confiscated.
South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, has also criticized South Africa’s land policies, claiming that white South Africans are victims of “racist ownership laws.” Musk’s comments have further fueled the debate over land reform and its implications for racial equality in South Africa.
Additionally, former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Patrick Gaspard described the current state of U.S.-South Africa relations as being at their “lowest point.” He emphasized the importance of repairing the partnership, stating, “There’s too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this relationship.”
