The US has banished South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician who hates America”.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Ebrahim Rasool is “no longer welcome in our great country”.
Writing on X, he added: “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered persona non grata.”
The Secretary of State reposted an article from website Breitbart that quoted the envoy as saying that Donald Trump was leading a “white supremacist” movement.
It was Rasool’s second time round in the role as ambassador, after he initially held the role from 2010 to 2015
Getty
A state department spokesperson said that Rasool must leave by March 21.
In response to the dismissal, South Africa’s presidency said in an online post that it had noted the “regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador”.
“The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.”
TRUMP LATEST:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Ebrahim Rasool is ‘no longer welcome in our great country’
Reuters
Tensions between the two nations have reached their “lowest point” since Trump’s return to the White House, Patrick Gaspard, former US ambassador to South Africa said.
Last month, the US President cut aid to Johannesburg, accusing the country’s government of “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners farmers.
He has offered them refugee status in response, saying that “certain classes of people” are being treated “very badly” there.
The new legislation makes it easier for the government to expropriate land in the public interest with “nil compensation”.
Last month, the US President cut aid to Johannesburg
Getty
A screenshot shows a post from the South African presidency regarding the expulsion Rasool
X/Reuters
Both left-wing and right-wing South African political parties have said the accusations are based on misinformation.
It was Rasool’s second time round in the role as ambassador, after he initially held the role from 2010 to 2015.
Former ambassador Gaspard said: “There’s too much at stake to not work towards the repair of this partnership.”
