SOUTH Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, has been ordered to leave Washington, escalating an already tense diplomatic standoff between the two nations. According to a report by the BBC, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on Friday, stating that Rasool was ‘no longer welcome in our great country’.
Rubio, who made the announcement via a post on X (formerly Twitter), accused Rasool of harbouring deep resentment towards America and President Donald Trump. Describing Rasool as a ‘race-baiting politician’, Rubio added, ‘We have nothing to discuss with him.’
Washington declares Rasool persona non grata
The declaration of Rasool as ‘persona non grata’—a Latin term used in diplomacy to signify an unwelcome person—marks a rare and significant move by the US government. Senior ambassadors are seldom expelled from Washington, with the BBC noting that such actions were avoided even during Cold War hostilities between the US and Russia.
Rubio’s post came shortly after he left Canada, where he attended a foreign ministers’ summit. His remarks were accompanied by a link to an article from right-wing outlet Breitbart, which highlighted comments Rasool made during an online lecture critical of the Trump administration.
During the lecture, Rasool argued that Trump was leading an ‘assault on incumbency’ by mobilising supremacist movements both domestically and internationally. He also commented on demographic shifts in the US, suggesting that the rise of the MAGA movement was a reaction to projections showing white Americans would soon no longer make up a majority of voters.
US freezes aid, cites discrimination against Afrikaners
The diplomatic fallout comes amid Washington’s decision to freeze all assistance to South Africa. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order citing ‘egregious actions’ by South Africa, particularly its alleged ‘unjust racial discrimination’ against the white Afrikaner minority—descendants of Dutch settlers.
The executive order specifically references South Africa’s newly enacted Expropriation Act, which Washington claims enables the government to seize private land without compensation. According to a White House statement, ‘As long as South Africa continues to support bad actors on the world stage and allows violent attacks on innocent, disfavoured minority farmers, the United States will stop aid and assistance to the country.’
Pretoria has dismissed these allegations, with the South African government denying that the Expropriation Act targets Afrikaners or is racially motivated. According to the Associated Press, South African officials insist that the law is intended to address historical injustices related to land ownership.
Rasool’s personal history and diplomatic career
Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion brings his second tenure as South Africa’s ambassador to the US to an abrupt end. He previously held the role between 2010 and 2015 before being reappointed in 2025.
Born and raised in Cape Town, Rasool’s early life was shaped by South Africa’s apartheid regime. At nine years old, he and his family were forcibly evicted from their home when the area was declared a whites-only zone. Rasool has often cited that experience as a pivotal moment in his life, fuelling his commitment to politics and social justice.
Relations at a new low
Diplomatic ties between the US and South Africa have grown increasingly strained since Trump returned to the White House. Tensions flared further following Washington’s claims that Pretoria is aligning itself with international ‘bad actors’ and perpetuating racial discrimination against minority groups.
As of now, the South African embassy in Washington has not issued an official response to Rasool’s expulsion, according to the BBC.
