South African Govt Condemns US Expulsion Of Ambassador
The government of South Africa has condemned the United States’ decision to expel its ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, calling for diplomatic restraint between the two nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa described the move as “regrettable” and urged both countries to uphold established diplomatic norms.
Despite the setback, Pretoria reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a cooperative relationship with Washington.
“The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool,” it said in a statement.
“The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.”
The expulsion, announced by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Friday, has further strained relations between the two countries.
Rubio labelled Rasool a “race-baiting politician” with views hostile to President Donald Trump.
The move follows escalating tensions over US policy toward South Africa. Last month, Trump froze US aid to Pretoria, citing concerns over land reform policies that he claimed allowed the seizure of land from white farmers.
The controversy deepened when Trump invited South African farmers to settle in the US, alleging that their government was “confiscating” their land.
Rasool, a former anti-apartheid activist and veteran diplomat, has yet to comment on his expulsion.
