WeeklySA_AdminMISSION: The Department of International Relations says US action regrettable as there had been “positive developments” between the two countries…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that they have received official confirmation from the South African mission in the United States late tonight that Rasool had been expelled, and arrangements have been made for his return.
Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said Rasool will debrief Pretoria once in South Africa. “From there, Pretoria will assess what are the next steps that need to be done and attend to it,” he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Rasool “persona non grata” on the social media platform X today, following an earlier address by the South African ambassador in which he criticised America President Donald Trump.
Rasool’s expulsion stemmed from comments he made while addressing a webinar facilitated by the think-tank, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection.
Among other things, he accused US President Donald Trump’s administration of supremacism. Phiri said Rasool’s expulsion was regrettable as there had been “positive developments” between the two countries – and the process to expel him had, to some extent, scuttled those.
“Nonetheless, we are determined to ensure that our relationship with the United States not only remains mutually respectful, but mutually beneficial.
“So ensuring that we have a very capable and able replacement for our Ambassador Rasool is critical… And also with someone who carries the full authority of the South African government,” he said, adding that it was important for Pretoria to ensure it continued engagements with Washington.
He also said the correct diplomatic channel would have been for the US to rather have Rasool understand the context in which he made his remarks at the webinar before making any decision. However, the US chose not to follow that process.
“They’ve gone through another process rather than just declaring our Ambassador PNG [persona non grata]. So that’s the route that they have chosen, and we will have to respect the decision as a sovereign state,” said Phiri.
Reacting to Rasool’s expulsion, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has labelled US President Donald Trump as the grand wizard of a global Ku Klux Klan.
The EFF says South Africa did not expel Reuben Brigety, the former US Ambassador to South Africa, when he made unfounded allegations about the country.Meanwhile, international relations expert Dr Kingsley Makhubela has questioned Rasool’s conduct following his sudden expulsion from the country.
Makhubela said Rasool made himself irrelevant. “There are clips that are circulating, of ambassador Rasool, characterising Donald Trump as an assault on incumbency, in the state and in the world. You can’t do that as an ambassador, it means he really made himself irrelevant, because the court will not be able to discuss with him in this respect- if he has this kind of regard for the ambassador.
There are other elements that contributed in the past, in terms of statements coming from the ambassador- and I think the decorum that is required in diplomacy is that you treat your host with utmost respect.”
As relations between the SA and the US further deteriorated, a visit by the European Union (EU) Commission this week solidified ties between the continental block and Pretoria. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said during the first EU Commission-SA summit since 2018 that SA had a key role to play on the world stage as a leading voice in the global south.
The commission announced a R93-billion investment package for SA during the visit.
