South Africa begins search for new US ambassador after fallout: What we know
South Africa has begun the search for a new ambassador to the United States following the expulsion of its previous envoy, Ebrahim Rasool, in a move that has escalated tensions between the two nations.
On March 14, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool persona non grata, a diplomatic designation that effectively barred him from continuing his role in Washington.
"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," Rubio wrote on X.
The decision came after controversial remarks made by Rasool about the MAGA movement and demographic shifts in the United States.
A persona non grata
During a webinar hosted by a South African think tank, Rasool suggested that the rise of former President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement was partially driven by concerns over changing US demographics.
"The MAGA movement is a response not simply to a supremacist instinct, but to very clear data that shows great demographic shifts in the USA," Rasool stated, referencing projections that white Americans will make up only 48% of the voting electorate in the future.
His comments sparked backlash in Washington, with the Trump-led administration viewing them as an inappropriate interference in US domestic politics.
In response to Rasool’s expulsion, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, called the move “regrettable” and urged both nations to maintain diplomatic decorum.
"We urge all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter. South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States," Magwenya said.
A new ambassador in the works
With Rasool’s departure, South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is now looking to appoint a seasoned political figure to repair strained ties with Washington. According to reports, an experienced ANC politician has emerged as the frontrunner for the position.
"He won’t speak out of line. He is a smart guy, and his messaging will be disciplined," Semafor quotes an ANC official.
The rift between South Africa and the US is the latest in a series of diplomatic challenges between the two nations. The Trump administration has previously accused the South African government of land expropriation from white farmers, adding to the already fragile relationship.
