Ebrahim Rasool addresses supporters, calling his persona non grata standing a badge of dignity after his US expulsion.
The South African ambassador who was expelled from america in a row with US President Donald Trump’s administration has arrived dwelling to a raucous welcome and struck a defiant tone over the choice.
Crowds at Cape City Worldwide Airport surrounded Ebrahim Rasool and his spouse Rosieda on Sunday as they emerged within the arrivals terminal of their hometown. They wanted a police escort to assist them navigate their method by the constructing.
“A declaration of persona non grata is supposed to humiliate you,” Rasool informed supporters as he addressed them with a megaphone. “However if you return to crowds like this, and with heat … like this, then I’ll put on my persona non grata as a badge of dignity.”
“It was not our alternative to come back dwelling, however we come dwelling with no regrets.”
Rasool additionally mentioned it was vital for South Africa to repair its relationship with the US after Trump punished the nation and accused it of taking an anti-American stance even earlier than the choice to expel Rasool.
Trump issued an govt order final month slicing all funding to South Africa, alleging its authorities is supporting the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran, and pursuing anti-white insurance policies at dwelling.
South Africa filed a case on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023, which accuses Israel of violating its obligations beneath the Genocide Conference in its struggle on the Gaza Strip. Greater than 10 international locations have since joined South Africa within the genocide case.
“We don’t come right here to say we’re anti-American,” Rasool mentioned to the gang. “We’re not right here to name on you to throw away our pursuits with america.”
They have been the ex-ambassador’s first public feedback for the reason that Trump administration declared him persona non grata over every week in the past, eliminated his diplomatic immunities and privileges, and gave him till Friday to depart the nation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who issued the declaration on X, mentioned Rasool was a “race-baiting politician” who hates the US and Trump.
It’s extremely uncommon for the US to expel a international ambassador.
Rubio’s submit linked to a narrative by the conservative Breitbart information website that reported on a chat Rasool gave on a webinar organised by a South African suppose tank. In his discuss, Rasool spoke in educational language of the Trump administration’s crackdowns on range and fairness programmes and immigration and talked about the potential for a US the place white individuals quickly would now not be within the majority.