US declares South Africa’s ambassador persona non grata

The top US diplomat accompanied his post with a link to the Breitbart news outlet, which cites the South African diplomat’s outbursts against the American leader

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared South African Ambassador to Washington Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata.

“South Africa’s ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates the US president. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered persona non grata,” Rubio wrote on his X page.

The American Foreign Affairs Minister accompanied his post with a link to the Breitbart news outlet, which cites the South African diplomat’s outbursts against Trump

Rasool rebuked Donald Trump for the ideology of “white supremacy”, “disrespect for the current world order” and disregard for international institutions, including the UN and the G20.

Rassoul was reappointed as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States in November 2024 by executive order of the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa.

He presented his credentials to then-US President Joe Biden on January 13. Rassoul previously served as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015.

South Africa will now act through diplomatic channels in connection with the declaration of its ambassador to the United States as persona non grata, Chrispin Phiri, a spokesman for South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said.

“We have noted the tweet by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” Phiri said on his X page. “We will engage through the diplomatic channel,” he emphasized, without specifying exactly what steps South Africa intends to take.

South Africa currently does not have a US ambassador, his or her duties are now performed by the charg d’affaires.