The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, in a rare diplomatic move that underscores the worsening relationship between the two nations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on social media, stating that Rasool is “no longer welcome in our great country.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rubio accused Rasool of harboring anti-American sentiments and being openly critical of both the US and President Donald Trump.
He described the South African envoy as a “race-baiting politician” and dismissed the possibility of any diplomatic discussions with him.
Rubio’s decision appears to have been triggered by remarks Rasool made during a recent online lecture discussing the Trump administration. In his speech, Rasool argued that Trump’s political strategy was centered on “mobilising a supremacism against the incumbency, at home… and abroad.” He also noted that the MAGA movement was a response to demographic shifts in the U.S., pointing out that projections suggest white Americans will soon make up less than half of the electorate.
Rubio linked to an article from the conservative media outlet Breitbart, which reported on Rasool’s comments. In response, the Secretary of State declared Rasool “PERSONA NON GRATA,” a formal diplomatic term that signifies an individual is unwelcome in a host country.
The expulsion of Rasool comes amid deepening tensions between Washington and Pretoria. President Trump recently signed an executive order freezing US assistance to South Africa, citing “egregious actions” by the South African government.
The White House claims the country engages in “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners, particularly through the controversial Expropriation Act, which allows the government to seize private land without compensation.
“As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent disfavored minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country,” a White House statement read.
The South African government has denied that the Expropriation Act is racially motivated. Officials argue that the law is part of a broader land reform effort aimed at addressing historical injustices from the apartheid era. The Associated Press reported that the government insists the policy is intended to ensure equitable land distribution, not to target Afrikaners specifically.
While lower-ranking diplomats are occasionally expelled over disputes, it is highly unusual for a senior official such as an ambassador to face such action. Even during the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia refrained from expelling each other’s top envoys.
Rasool, a veteran diplomat, previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2010 to 2015 before being reappointed to the position in 2025. Born and raised in Cape Town, he was forcibly removed from his family home at the age of nine due to apartheid-era racial segregation policies. His political views have been deeply shaped by that experience, and he has remained an outspoken critic of racial injustice.
The South African embassy in Washington has yet to issue an official response to Rasool’s expulsion. However, the move is expected to strain relations between the two nations even further, with potential diplomatic and economic consequences.
Chioma Kalu
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