US expels South African ambassador

The United States on Friday expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington Ebrahim Rasool for allegedly being hostile towards the country and President Donald Trump.

“South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X on Friday.

Ebrahim Rasool is “a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS,” he said. “We have nothing to discuss with him, and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”

The move further escalade tension between Washington and Pretoria.

In February, President Trump froze US aid to South Africa, citing a law in the country that he alleges allows land to be seized from white farmers.

One of Trump’s closest allies is billionaire Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of having “openly racist ownership laws.”

Land ownership is a contentious issue in South Africa, with most farmland still owned by white people three decades.