- South Africa’s ambassador Ebrahim Rasool turned a humiliating diplomatic snub into a defiant triumph, greeted by roaring crowds in Cape Town.
- Why did the U.S. declare him persona non grata? The explosive clash over Israel, Iran, and accusations of ‘race-baiting’ that shattered U.S.-South Africa relations.
- Rasool’s dramatic return exposes the deepening rift between a defiant South Africa and a confrontational Trump administration.
Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s former ambassador to the U.S., returned home to Cape Town on Sunday to a hero’s welcome after being expelled by the Donald Trump administration in a dramatic diplomatic row. The scene at Cape Town International Airport was one of jubilation and defiance, as crowds surrounded Rasool and his wife, Rosieda, chanting slogans of support and waving South African flags.
The couple needed a police escort to navigate through the throngs of well-wishers, a stark contrast to the cold reception he received in Washington D.C just days earlier.
Rasool’s expulsion marks a rare and significant moment in U.S.-South Africa relations, reflecting the growing tensions between the two nations. But for Rasool, the expulsion was not a moment of shame—it was a badge of honor.
“A declaration of persona non grata is meant to humiliate you,” Rasool told the crowd, speaking through a megaphone. “But when you return to crowds like this, and with warmth… like this, then I will wear my persona non grata as a badge of dignity.”
U.S.-South Africa diplomatic fallout: Why Ebrahim Rasool was kicked out
The expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool from the U.S. did not happen in a vacuum. It was the culmination of months of escalating tensions between South Africa and the Trump administration, fueled by disagreements over foreign policy, human rights, and domestic politics.
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention in its war on the Gaza Strip. The move was widely seen as a bold stance against what many in South Africa view as Israeli aggression, and it garnered support from over a dozen countries.
However, it also drew sharp criticism from the U.S., which has long been a staunch ally of Israel.
President Trump responded with an executive order cutting all funding to South Africa, accusing the country of supporting Hamas and Iran and pursuing anti-white policies at home. The decision to expel Rasool came shortly after, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declaring him persona non grata on social media platform X. Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” who harbored anti-American sentiments.
The expulsion was highly unusual. The U.S. rarely expels foreign ambassadors, and the move sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. For South Africa, it was seen as an affront to their sovereignty and a direct challenge to their foreign policy stance.
Ebrahim Rasool’s defiant response: “No regrets”
In his first public comments since the expulsion, Rasool struck a defiant tone. “It was not our choice to come home, but we come home with no regrets,” he told the crowd at the airport. He added that South Africa’s relationship with the U.S. was important but needed to be based on mutual respect and equality.
“We don’t come here to say we are anti-American,” Rasool explained, adding, “We are not here to call on you to throw away our interests with the U.S.” His comments were a clear attempt to balance the need for diplomatic pragmatism with the growing anti-American sentiment among some South Africans.
Rasool’s expulsion was linked to a webinar he participated in, organized by a South African think tank. During the webinar, Rasool spoke critically of the Trump administration’s policies on diversity, equity, and immigration, suggesting that the new administration in Washington was becoming a more racially diverse nation where white people would soon no longer be the majority.
His comments were picked up by conservative media outlets such as Breitbart, which accused him of promoting anti-white rhetoric.
For Rasool, however, the expulsion was less about his comments and more about the broader geopolitical tensions between South Africa and the U.S. “This is not just about me,” he said. “This is about the principles we stand for as a nation,” he noted at Cape Town International Airport.
The broader implications of strained U.S.-South Africa relations
The expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool is more than just a diplomatic spat—it is a symptom of the growing divide between the U.S. and South Africa. Under President Trump, the U.S. has taken a more isolationist and confrontational approach to foreign policy, often clashing with nations that do not align with its interests.
South Africa, on the other hand, has increasingly positioned itself as a champion of human rights and a vocal critic of Western imperialism. The country’s decision to take Israel to the ICJ over its actions in Gaza is just one example of this broader trend. For many South Africans, the expulsion of Rasool is a sign that their country is standing up to a global superpower—and paying the price for it.
But the question remains: where does this leave U.S.-South Africa relations? Rasool’s expulsion has undoubtedly strained ties between the two nations, but it has also galvanized support for South Africa’s foreign policy stance at home. As Rasool himself noted, the relationship with the U.S. is too important to discard entirely, but it must be based on mutual respect and equality.
Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion is not just about one man—it is about the shifting dynamics of global diplomacy in an increasingly polarized world. As nations like South Africa assert their independence and challenge the dominance of global superpowers, the diplomatic landscape is becoming more complex and unpredictable. And in this new world, figures like Ebrahim Rasool—defiant, principled, and unyielding—are likely to play an increasingly important role.
Read also: With WFP’s southern Africa office shutdown, is Trump’s “America First” policy justified?
