Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, has been given a 72-hour ultimatum to exit the country after being declared persona non grata and deemed unwelcome. This announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, marking a significant diplomatic action.
In an official statement, the South African government expressed its disappointment regarding the United States’ decision to expel Rasool, and advised for diplomatic restraint between the two countries. On Saturday, March 15, 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office acknowledged the “regrettable expulsion” and urged all involved parties to uphold established diplomatic norms. Despite this diplomatic challenge, South Africa reiterated its dedication to nurturing a mutually advantageous relationship with the United States.
Secretary of State Rubio characterized Rasool as a “race-baiting politician” who holds negative sentiments towards Americans and specifically towards President Donald Trump. In a post on X, Rubio stated, “South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” further asserting, “We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered persona non grata.” While Rubio did not elaborate on the reasons for the expulsion, he referenced a Breitbart article concerning Rasool’s recent remarks during a webinar organized by a South African think tank, where he criticized the policies of the Trump administration.
In the webinar address, Ebrahim Rasool, a former anti-apartheid activist, stated, “What Donald Trump is initiating is an attack on those currently in power, by rallying a form of supremacism against the incumbency—both domestically and internationally.” This remark was made during the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) forum on Friday. He characterized Trump’s MAGA movement as a reaction not only to a supremacist tendency but also to evident demographic changes occurring in the United States. “I believe there is also an exportation of this revolution,” he continued, asserting that it is “not coincidental that Elon Musk has engaged in UK politics” and that “Vice President Vance has addressed the Alternative for Germany [AfD] to bolster their election efforts.”
The diplomatic strain has intensified the rising tensions between Washington and Pretoria. Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce aid to South Africa, citing a contentious land expropriation law that he argues discriminates against white South Africans by permitting the confiscation of land from white farmers. He further escalated the situation last week by inviting white South African farmers to relocate to the US, claiming their land is being “confiscated” and labeling South Africa as a “bad place to be right now.”
The South African government contends that the law is intended to rectify historical inequalities, as white farmers continue to control the majority of farmland despite representing only about 7% of the population. The government aims to transfer 30% of farmland to black farmers by the year 2030.
Although lower-ranking diplomats have faced similar measures in the past, Rasool’s expulsion is an unusual action in diplomatic relations. The last instance of the US declaring a foreign ambassador persona non grata occurred in 2008, when Bolivia’s ambassador was expelled in retaliation after Bolivia accused US envoy Philip Goldberg of meddling in its domestic matters.
Following the diplomatic spat, the European Union has declared its intention to invest in South Africa to counteract the reduction of aid from the United States. EU President Ursula von der Leyen made this announcement during her address at the EU-South Africa summit held in Cape Town on Thursday, emphasizing that “while others are withdrawing, the bloc is increasing its support for the country.”
The EU plans to allocate €4.7 billion (about $5 billion) to South Africa to facilitate various initiatives, including the transition to clean energy, vaccine production, and enhancements in both digital and physical connectivity. This announcement was made during a summit focused on strengthening the bilateral relationship between the EU and South Africa, occurring shortly after the US ceased its financial support to Pretoria amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.
During her address to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Von der Leyen remarked, “We discussed green hydrogen and renewable energy at the G20 in Rio last November. To embark on this new chapter in our partnership, Europe is prepared to contribute a €4.7 billion Global Gateway investment package.”
A significant portion of this aid, amounting to €4.4 billion, will be directed towards clean and equitable energy projects, which include the expansion of wind, solar, and hydrogen energy production within the nation.
“We recognize that others are withdrawing. Therefore, we want to convey a clear message: We are committed to increasing our support. We are here to stay,” asserted the EU President.
Last week, Pretoria announced that the US had exited the International Partners Group (IPG), a coalition that comprises the EU, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Norway, and Denmark, which aims to assist several countries, including South Africa, in transitioning to cleaner energy sources. According to a statement from President Ramaphosa’s office, South Africa is now at risk of losing over $1 billion in investment commitments from Washington due to its departure from the group.
During his address at the EU-South Africa summit held in Cape Town , Ramaphosa remarked that the gathering is taking place “amid a period of global uncertainty marked by increasing unilateralism, economic nationalism, and a withdrawal from international law.”
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