The South African presidency has described the expulsion of its Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, as “regrettable.”
In a brief statement posted on X Saturday, the presidency called for diplomatic decorum in addressing the situation.
“The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool.
“The Presidency urges 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 of America,” the statement read.
As previously reported by Daily Sun, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that Rasool had been declared persona non grata and was no longer welcome in the country.
The decision followed Rasool’s remarks at a foreign policy seminar in South Africa, where he reportedly accused US President Donald Trump of leading a global white supremacist movement. Rasool was discussing Trump’s foreign policy stance on South Africa’s property expropriation legislation when he made the comments.
In response, Rubio called Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America and hates POTUS,” stating, “We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON-GRATA.”
