Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Yemeni Armed Forces: The blockade on the Port of Haifa comes following the successful imposition of the siege on the Port of Umm al-Rashrash, which has since ceased operations
Yemeni Armed Forces: The Port of Haifa is now officially part of our target bank
Yemeni Armed Forces calls on companies with ships currently in the Port of Haifa or en route to it to take into account the contents of the statement and any forthcoming announcements
Yemeni Armed Forces: The imposition of a blockade on the Port of Haifa comes in response to the enemy’s escalation of its brutal aggression against Gaza and the continued siege and starvation
Yemeni Armed Forces: Our decisions and operations against the occupying entity will not cease until the aggression on Gaza ends and the blockade on it is lifted
Yemeni Armed Forces: We have decided to begin enforcing a naval blockade on the Port of Haifa, which is now among our list of designated targets
The Israeli occupation has released the child Mohammad, the son of martyr Ahmad Sarhan, whom it abducted earlier today from Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, but his mother remains in detention
UK, France, and Canada in a joint statement: The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law
Leaders of UK, France, and Canada warn that their countries would take action if "Israel" does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions
Putin says Trump in conversation expressed his position on cessation of hostilities in Ukraine

Diplomatic rift: South Africa slams US over ambassador's expulsion

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Mar 2025 11:43
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

South Africa has condemned the United States’ decision to expel its ambassador as “regrettable,” calling for “diplomatic decorum” in managing bilateral relations.

Listen
  • x
  • FILE - South Africa's ambassador to the U.S. Ebrahim Rasool speaks at the South African Embassy in Washington, Dec. 6, 2013. (AP)
     South Africa's ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool speaks at the South African Embassy in Washington, on December 6, 2013. (AP)

South Africa has called the United States’ decision to expel its ambassador “regrettable,” urging adherence to “diplomatic decorum” in managing relations between the two countries, the presidency said in a statement on Saturday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was no longer welcome in the US, calling him “a race-baiting politician” who harbors hostility toward US President Donald Trump.

“The Presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa's Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool,” the statement read, adding, “The Presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter.”

Despite the escalating tensions, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a “mutually beneficial relationship” with Washington.

The expulsion of Rasool, a former anti-apartheid activist, further strains relations between the two nations, which have already been tested by Trump’s recent policies. In February, Trump froze US aid to South Africa, claiming a national law enables land seizures from white farmers.

At the time, South Africa's Foreign Ministry strongly criticized the executive order, calling it factually incorrect and dismissive of the country's history. "It lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa's profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid." 

The executive order has also been linked to South Africa's international legal action against "Israel." In January 2024, South Africa filed a case at the ICJ against "Israel" for committing genocide in Gaza. The White House cited this legal challenge as evidence of South Africa's opposition to Washington and its allies. The order also referenced Pretoria's ties with Iran, another point of contention in US-South Africa relations.

Related News

NATO defense spending to rise, target of 5% of GDP over 10 years

US to ease Syria sanctions, offer 180-day waivers: Rubio

Trump invites South African farmers to US amid land dispute

Last week, Trump intensified the dispute by stating that South African farmers were welcome to relocate to the US, repeating his allegation that the government was “confiscating” land from white citizens.

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that "any Farmer (with family!) from South Africa, seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety, will be invited into the United States of America with a rapid pathway to Citizenship."

Declaring South Africa a "bad place to be right now," Trump said the US would immediately halt all aid to Pretoria.

Tensions between Washington and Pretoria have escalated over South Africa’s land expropriation law, which Trump claims will lead to the seizure of white-owned farms.

The South African presidency swiftly responded, rejecting what it called "counterproductive megaphone diplomacy."

Trump, whose close ally Elon Musk was born in South Africa, previously stated that the law, signed in January, allows the government to "seize ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property without compensation."

The legislation permits the government to offer "nil compensation" in certain cases when land is expropriated in the public interest. Supporters argue it addresses historic inequalities, as white landowners still control most farmland three decades after apartheid.

However, Trump accused the country of "being terrible, plus, to long time Farmers in the country."

Read more: South Africa, Malaysia launch campaign for justice protection

  • Marco Rubio
  • United States
  • Ebrahim Rasool
  • ambassador's expulsion
  • South Africa

Most Read

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Foreign secretary David Lammy leave after attending the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Labour Minister breaks ranks, blasts government over Gaza

China’s advanced AI may surpass US Efforts: Report
Asia

China’s advanced AI may surpass US efforts: Report

A Boeing 777X is brought on the runway ahead of a display flight, at the Farnborough Air Show fair in Farnborough, England, Tuesday, July 19, 2022 (AP)
US & Canada

Boeing stock rises after Trump secures major Gulf deals

MEPs urge the Commission to act so that all EU citizens can travel to the US without visas©AP Images/European Union-EP
US & Canada

Americans race for EU residency as immigration doors begin to close

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS