Trump administrator. Deportation of South African envoy Ebrahim Rasool, called him a racially seductive politician who hates America”

Johannesburg – The Trump administration on Friday expelled South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, giving him 72 hours to leave the country. In social media posts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Rasool a “racially seductive politician who hates America” and President Trump.

The State Council said in its foreign traffic notice that it will no longer recognize Ambassador Rasul as ” [South African] The mission starting today (March 17), “added that “his privilege and immunity will cease” and that he is “nigngrata nor grata” in the United States.

The deportation was held at a webinar hosted by Rasool at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in South Africa, where he accused Mr. Trump of adopting policies and practices that were considered “a response to the growing diversity of American demographics.”

Rasool was fired just two months after arriving in Washington as the country’s envoy.

“Improving our relationship with the United States of America is our top priority,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters on Monday.

“We have noticed the dissatisfaction expressed by the United States, especially about his remarks,” Ramaphosa said.

This is the latest in a series of events, and diplomatic relations between the United States have deteriorated significantly South Africa Since Mr. Trump took office in January for his second term.

Speaking on South African TV on Saturday, the country’s foreign minister said Rasul’s decision, who had previously opposed the country’s racist apartheid regime, was “unprecedented and regrettable”, before adding: diplomacy. ”

Relatives, anti-Israel ambassador?

Rasool appointed the ruling African National Congress party to take charge of the South African diplomatic mission in the United States, and even before he arrived in Washington, he was divided within the country’s new government of national unity (GNU). The ANC had to establish a coalition government to maintain power because it failed to win enough majority in the last election to rule alone.

“Rasul’s appointment was opposed by all other political parties at GNU, the first focus between the parties,” William Gumede, a professor of public administration at Witwatersland University in Johannesburg, explained to CBS News.

“Eventually, the non-partners were in trouble,” Gumede said.

“He is considered pro-Iran and Hamas and strongly anti-Israel, which is largely why he is considered a wrong choice for the Ambassador Post,” Gumed told CBS News.

Rasool has long been a controversial figure in South African politics, expressing good expressions about the US and Israel-appointed terrorist group Hamas, even boasting about his ties to the organization’s leadership. He is a strong supporter of South Africa’s filings with the top UN courts Accusing Israel of committing genocide In the Gaza Strip. Israel strongly rejected the charges, believing its war in the Palestinian enclave was a legal self-defense against Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks.

Gumede said he believes that Ramaphosa’s path to ease tensions with Washington is to make the South African president publicly mark Rasour’s comments “unacceptable”, while also confirming in detail the importance of the U.S. relations and the extent of aid to South Africa.

Analysts say if Pretoria does not take such measures to calm the relationship, the deadlock could deepen and have a significant impact on South Africa.

“I’m worried that the next step might be economic sanctions against South Africa, which means we are at risk of losing 300,000 to 400,000 direct jobs in the country, and more jobs through indirect channels,” he said.

“It’s not too late,” Gumede added. “President Trump has a lot of South Africans in his inner circle. We need to attract them and form a team of non-government partners from the National Unity Government to go to the United States and interact with the Trump team. This relationship is simply too important.”