WASHINGTON, D.C. — Relations between the United States and South Africa took a sharp downturn on Friday as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata.
Rubio announced the decision on X, stating that Rasool was “no longer welcome in our great country.” He went further, calling Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS.”
South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA. breitbart.com/africa/2025/03…
The move comes at a time of increasing tensions between Washington and Pretoria, largely fueled by U.S. opposition to South Africa’s land expropriation policy.
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order suspending American aid to South Africa, citing concerns that the land reform law would lead to the seizure of white-owned farms.
Trump also extended an invitation for South African farmers to relocate to the U.S.
South African officials have yet to respond to Rubio’s decision, but President Cyril Ramaphosa previously defended the land policy, arguing it was a constitutional effort to correct historical racial injustices.
“We are guided by the Constitution, which places a responsibility on the state to take measures to redress the effects of past racial discrimination,” Ramaphosa posted on X.
He also pushed back against U.S. criticism, saying, “We have expressed concern about the mischaracterization of the situation in South Africa and certain of our laws and our foreign policy positions.”
The expulsion of an ambassador is a rare and serious diplomatic move, signaling a further deterioration in the relationship between the two nations.
It remains unclear whether South Africa will respond with a similar measure, potentially expelling the U.S. ambassador from Pretoria.
