In this photograph from 2020, Ebrahim Rasool speaks at the Cape Town Press Club in Cape Town, South Africa on December 15, 2020. – Gallo Images/Gallo Images/Getty Images
US Senator Marco Rubio recently stated that South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in the country. Rubio accused Ebrahim Rasool of being a divisive politician who holds negative views towards America and President Donald Trump. Rubio declared Rasool persona non grata, a serious diplomatic action that typically results in the individual being expelled from the host nation.
Rasool has been instructed to leave the US by March 21, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the State Department to CNN. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed disappointment at this decision and emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomatic decorum in handling the situation.
Rubio’s statement referenced an article in Breitbart regarding Rasool’s remarks at a think tank event criticizing Trump’s presidency. This move against Rasool marks a further decline in the already strained relationship between the US and South Africa, which has faced criticism from both Trump and Elon Musk, a tech billionaire and ally to the former president.
Rasool’s comments on Trump’s presidency and election were seen as a trigger for Rubio’s actions. He discussed the impact of Trump’s policies on domestic and international affairs, particularly emphasizing demographic shifts in the US electorate.
These developments underscore ongoing tensions between the US and South Africa, with political and racial dynamics playing a significant role in shaping diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In January, South Africa implemented the Expropriation Act with the aim of addressing the historical injustices of apartheid, which led to significant disparities in land ownership between the Black majority and White minority populations. During the apartheid era, non-White South Africans were forcibly removed from their lands to benefit White individuals. Despite the official end of racial segregation in the country nearly three decades ago, Black South Africans, who make up over 80% of the 63 million population, only own about 4% of private land.
The new expropriation law grants the South African government authority to acquire and redistribute land without always having to provide compensation, as long as the action is deemed to be fair and in the public interest. President Ramaphosa stated that the legislation is intended to promote fair and equitable access to land for all citizens. However, there is opposition to the policy from figures such as former President Trump and businessman Elon Musk, who argue that it discriminates against White South Africans.
The Trump administration has strongly criticized the land reform policy, with Senator Rubio announcing that he would not attend a G20 meeting in Johannesburg due to concerns about South Africa’s actions. President Trump subsequently halted aid to South Africa, accusing the government of discriminating against White farmers. In response, Trump also declared a plan to assist Afrikaner refugees fleeing alleged race-based discrimination in South Africa by offering them a swift path to citizenship in the United States.
The State Department confirmed that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the resettlement of Afrikaners, with initial interviews already underway. For more news updates and newsletters from CNN, sign up for an account at CNN.com.
