Pretoria – South Africa presidency on Monday described as “regrettable” the dismissal of their ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, by Washington authorities but insisted that they are still working to improve ties between Pretoria and Washington.
“The presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter,” the presidency of South Africa said in a statement.
“South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America.”
Rasool was expelled over the weekend via social media platform X by US
Secretary of State, Marko Rubio.
On his X platform Rubio wrote: “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 @POTUS.”
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA.”
Relations between South Africa and the United States of America have been strained in the past years.
Once the US accused South Africa of sending weapons to Russia to help Moscow fight in the on-going war in Ukraine.