The South African ambassador who was expelled from the United States after a dispute with Donald Trump’s administration has since returned to Cape Town with “zero” regrets.
Ebrahim Rasool returned to a hero’s welcome from hundreds of supporters on Sunday.
According to The BBC, the 62 year-old was declared persona non grata after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him of being a “race-baiting politician who hates America.” Despite the controversy, Rasool stood by his remarks, insisting they were meant to challenge South African leaders to rethink their relationship with the US.
Speaking at Cape Town International Airport, Rasool said his comments during a webinar organized by a South African think tank were intended to highlight the need for a new approach to US-South Africa relations under Trump’s leadership. “The old way of doing business with the US was not a good one,” he stated.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating since Trump took office, with Rasool’s expulsion marking a new low in diplomatic ties.
As Rasool arrived, members of the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party, and various trade unions gathered, singing and dancing in a show of solidarity.
Despite his removal, Rasool remains defiant, expressing no regrets about his stance. His return signals growing frustration within South Africa’s political circles over what they see as US interference and hostile diplomacy under Trump’s administration.
The incident raises questions about the future of US-South Africa relations, as both countries navigate an increasingly tense diplomatic landscape.
