Africa: Why Was South Africa's Ambassador to the U.S. Expelled? a View of the Ebrahim Rasool Affair

In mid-March 2025, the Trump administration expelled Ebrahim Rasool. He was South Africa's ambassador to Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this on X. He accused Rasool of hating the US and President Trump. Rubio stated that Rasool was "no longer welcome in our great country."

The expulsion followed comments Rasool made during a webinar. This event was organized by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Studies. Rasool claimed Trump was "mobilising a supremacism" and projecting "white victimhood." He noted that the white population in the US faced becoming a minority.

Relations between South Africa and the US had soured early in Trump's term. Trump criticized South Africa for taking Israel to court over Gaza accusations. He froze all funding to South Africa and offered asylum to white Afrikaners. This move encouraged far-right groups within South Africa.

Peter Vale, an expert on South African relations, shared his thoughts on Rasool's expulsion. Vale respected Rasool from their time together at the University of the Western Cape 30 years ago. He believed Rasool performed well as ambassador during Obama's presidency.

Vale noted that Rasool's appointment came just after Biden's election announcement. The South African government may have misjudged Biden’s chances based on polling data. Under Biden, relations with South Africa were manageable, and Rasool knew key officials.

Vale emphasized that politics in the US has changed significantly since Obama’s era. He pointed out that Rasool's political roots are deep within the African National Congress (ANC). The United Democratic Front faction shaped anti-apartheid movements in the 1980s.

However, today's political language has shifted towards jargon and euphemisms. This new "techno-speak" often obscures important issues like racial justice and gender equality in politics.

During the Mapungubwe seminar, tensions between Pretoria and Washington were discussed. Vale mentioned how former politician Frederik van Zyl Slabbert distinguished between conspiracy and mistakes; sometimes both occur together.

Rasool may have been confused about his audience—local or international? If there was deceit at this gathering, it wasn't solely Rasool's fault. A journalist named Joel Pollack reportedly tried to trip him up during questioning while remaining anonymous.

Vale believes journalists should disclose their identities when asking questions at such events. The meeting did not seem to follow Chatham House Rules, which protect participant anonymity for open discussions.

Since Rasool's expulsion, many observers believe he should have been more diplomatic with his words. However, some argue that diplomats should uphold higher standards than those set by current governments.

This idea echoes historical instances where diplomats opposed apartheid policies despite government pressure—like Sweden’s ambassador being expelled in 1986 for opposing apartheid policies.

Thomas Paine famously wrote that ambassadors represent humanity rather than just their governments' interests.