The United States has expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, in a move announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The decision was attributed to Rasool’s alleged disdain for both the United States and President Donald Trump. Rubio declared Rasool “persona non grata” in a post on X, accusing him of being a “race-baiting politician” who harbors animosity toward America and its president.
This expulsion is the latest chapter in the increasingly strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. Earlier this year, Trump froze U.S. aid to South Africa, citing concerns over a law he claims allows land seizures from white farmers. The issue of land ownership remains a deeply divisive topic in South Africa, where the majority of farmland is still owned by white individuals, despite the end of apartheid over three decades ago. The South African government faces mounting pressure to address these disparities through reforms.
Adding fuel to the fire, South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration of implementing “openly racist ownership laws.” These accusations have further complicated the diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
Despite these tensions, Ramaphosa revealed during a recent G20 event in South Africa that he had a “wonderful” conversation with Trump shortly after the latter assumed office. However, he acknowledged that their relationship later “went off the rails,” reflecting the broader challenges in U.S.-South Africa relations.
The expulsion of Rasool underscores the growing discord between the two countries, with land reform and racial equity at the heart of the controversy.
