Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, as “persona non grata” and unwelcome in the country. This decision comes after Rasool made comments critical of the Trump administration, specifically regarding diversity and equity programs and immigration. The U.S. move targeting South Africa is in response to President Trump signing an executive order cutting aid to the Black-led government over a land law that allows for expropriation of private land, which Trump claims discriminates against white Afrikaners. The South African government denies these claims, stating the law is not tied to race and is aimed at addressing the legacy of apartheid.
Rasool, a former anti-apartheid campaigner and diplomat, had served as the country’s ambassador to the U.S. previously. His comments in a webinar criticizing the Trump administration and noting demographic shifts in the U.S. voting electorate likely led to his expulsion. The South African government has denounced the decision and accused Trump of spreading misinformation about their country.
This move is highly unusual, as the U.S. rarely expels foreign ambassadors. The South African Embassy has not issued a comment on the matter. Trump’s ally, Elon Musk, has also criticized South Africa’s government over the land law, highlighting tensions between the U.S. administration and the African nation. The expulsion of Rasool is seen as a further escalation in the strained relationship between the two countries.
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