The ambassador of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) in Washington, Ibrahim Rasul, was declared "persona non grata" by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meaning he was deprived of the right to operate in the USA. This decision was made due to the RSA ambassador's criticism of Donald Trump's policies towards ethnic minorities. Rubio emphasized on his official social media page that "Ibrahim Rasul is a racist politician hated by America and the US president," and his activities in Washington were terminated.
The ambassador's criticism of Trump
Ibrahim Rasul has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump's policies against ethnic minorities. He referred to Trump as a politician fighting for the supremacy of whites around the world. As the ambassador of South Africa to the USA, Rasul criticized Trump's policies primarily based on his country's history of human rights and the struggle against racism. Each of his statements is closely related to the historical struggle against racial discrimination in the RSA.
Ibrahim Rasul's personal history
Ibrahim Rasul's personal life is also closely linked to the struggle against racial discrimination. He grew up in Cape Town and at the age of 9, his family was evicted from a "whites-only" residence. This incident sparked his activism against racial discrimination. Later, Rasul joined the party of Nelson Mandela, one of South Africa's prominent political parties, and entered into high politics.
Relations between RSA and the USA
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and the USA have deteriorated since Trump took office. Trump called for an end to aid to the RSA and accused it of pursuing a policy of racial discrimination solely against white farmers. RSA officials rejected this accusation, labeling it a radical political decision.
Furthermore, RSA's appeal to the International Court against Israel can also be seen as one of the factors that heightened tensions between the USA and the RSA. The RSA filed a lawsuit against the genocide committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and also made a similar appeal against the USA and the United Kingdom.
Diplomatic processes and influence on the world stage
The expulsion of Ambassador Ibrahim Rasul from the USA is considered a rare diplomatic measure. Even during the Cold War, the USA and Russia did not resort to such diplomatic measures against each other. This situation represents one of the largest diplomatic events in the world, indicating a rapid change in political relations and diplomatic decisions between the two countries.
Ibrahim Rasul's activities during his tenure have left an indelible mark on the political history of the Republic of South Africa, and his approach to diplomatic strategy has simultaneously revealed many issues. This event could lead to a new phase in the relations between the RSA and the USA.
