South Africa Appoints New Ambassador to United States

South Africa Appoints Roelf Meyer as New Ambassador to the United States

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a former minister and negotiator in the apartheid government, as South Africa’s new ambassador to the United States. This appointment comes after a year of strained ties between the two countries.

Meyer, 78, will replace Ebrahim Rasool, who was expelled from his post last March following a public dispute with former US President Donald Trump over allegations of a global “white supremacist” movement. Since then, South Africa has been without diplomatic representation in Washington, DC.

Roelf Meyer is a member of the white Afrikaner community, which led the apartheid government for decades. He has previously stated that South Africa needs to work to mend its ties with the US, citing the need for improved communication and collaboration between the two countries.

The relationship between the US and South Africa has deteriorated since Trump’s presidency began in January 2024. The US president has criticized South Africa’s affirmative action policies aimed at addressing inequalities since the end of apartheid. Trump has also falsely claimed that there is a “white genocide” in South Africa, while his administration has offered expedited citizenship to white Afrikaners facing alleged racial discrimination.

South Africa recently filed a case of genocide against US ally Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has angered Washington. The US had previously accused South Africa of “cosying up to Iran” after Tehran was invited to participate in a BRICS wargames near South Africa’s coast. The BRICS exercise also included China and Russia.

In January, the US launched attacks on Iran, killing over 2,000 people, while a ceasefire was signed last week with diplomatic efforts underway to end the war. Billionaire Elon Musk, a close aide of Trump, has also accused the South African government of pursuing racially discriminatory policies against white citizens.

President Ramaphosa described Meyer as “a very loyal and patriotic South African” who is well-qualified for the role. In an interview last July, Meyer stated that South Africa needs to work on mending its ties with the US, citing the need for improved communication and collaboration between the two countries.

Source: Al Jazeera