PRETORIA, March 15. /TASS/. South Africa is determined to continue building mutually beneficial relations with the United States despite the expulsion of its ambassador from Washington, the presidential administration said in a statement.
"The presidency has noted the regrettable expulsion of South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool," the statement said. "The presidency urges all relevant and impacted stakeholders to maintain the established diplomatic decorum in their engagement with the matter. South Africa remains committed to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States of America," it emphasized.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African Ambassador to Washington Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata, calling him "a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates the US president."
Rassoul was reappointed as South Africa's ambassador to the United States in November 2024 by executive order of the country's president Cyril Ramaphosa. He presented his credentials to then-US President Joe Biden on January 13. Rassoul previously served as South Africa's ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015.