President Trump's administration officially ousted the US ambassador for South Africa to the United States, a South African president's spokesman said on Saturday he called for a “disappointing” decision.
Vincent Magwenia, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasaur has received an expulsion from the State Department. The move comes at a low point of relations between the two countries, where Trump accused Ramaphosa of discriminating against white South African minorities and siding with one of America's enemies, Iran.
A statement from Ramaphosa's office called for the maintenance of “established diplomatic decorations.”
“South Africa remains committed to building mutually beneficial relationships with the United States,” the statement said.
The first sign of Lasor's fate came when Secretary of State Marco Rubio returned from the alliance of the Seven in Canada on Friday.
Rubio wrote on social media that the South African ambassador is Trump, “a resigning politician who hates America.” He added, “He is considered Persona Non Grata because we have nothing to talk about with him.” The designation requires South Africa to end Mr. Rathor's role as ambassador.
Rubio commented on a repost of an article on Breitbart, a right-leaning news site, which took place on Friday via a video link to the Johannesburg Institute. The article cited Rathor as saying he is leading the “supervisors, people in power” in South Africa.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 states that host states “while explaining its decision, and at any time without explaining its decision.” The treaty states that in such a designation, “the sender country shall, if necessary, remind the parties involved or terminate its function on the mission.”
Last month, Rubio refused to attend a meeting of top diplomats from groups from 20 countries, criticising the South African host for focusing on “solidarity, equality and sustainability.” Other countries did not follow Rubio's boycott.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order prioritizing resettlement for African-Americans, a white ethnic minority group in South Africa, and derived from European colonies. Trump called them “victims of unfair racism” and falsely claimed that the South African government had seized their land. Trump's order comes after the South African president signed a new land reform bill.
Trump has also ordered the federal government to cut off all aid to South Africa.
Despite hostility with the White House, Ramaphosa says he wants to maintain strong ties with the United States, South Africa's second-largest trading partner. His government is preparing a trade proposal that will provide Trump with the hope that it will convince him that relations with South Africa will benefit America.
