Synopsis
The South African Presidency expressed disappointment over Ebrahim Rasool's expulsion as Ambassador to the US, urging all parties to respect diplomatic norms. The incident follows Rasool's criticism of President Trump, which coincides with ongoing tensions over climate policies and international agreements.Key Takeaways
- South Africa regrets the expulsion of its ambassador.
- The ambassador criticized Trump, leading to tensions.
- US withdrawal from international agreements impacts support.
- Commitment to climate action remains a priority.
- Efforts for a just energy transition continue.
Johannesburg, March 15 (NationPress) The South African Presidency has conveyed its disappointment regarding the removal of Ebrahim Rasool, the South African Ambassador to the United States.
A statement released on Saturday emphasized the unfortunate nature of the ambassador's expulsion and called on all involved parties to uphold diplomatic standards while addressing this issue.
The presidency stated, "South Africa is dedicated to fostering a mutually advantageous relationship with the United States."
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Rasool as "persona non grata" via the social media platform X, following a speech by the ambassador where he criticized US President Donald Trump.
In his speech, Rasool accused Trump of "leading a global white supremacist movement" and undermining established diplomatic norms, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
This incident occurs within the context of Trump's February executive order that aimed to reduce financial support to South Africa, citing concerns over its land policy and accusing the nation of "seizing ethnic minority Afrikaners' agricultural property." This action also coincided with South Africa's genocide case against Israel, a close ally of Washington, at the International Court of Justice.
On March 10, the South African Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) expressed its dissatisfaction with the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
In a statement issued on Monday, the PCC expressed "disappointment" regarding the US exit from the International Partners Group (IPG) and the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund, both established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during COP27.
The PCC noted that the US withdrawal from the JETP had diminished international Just Energy Transition commitments from 13.8 billion US dollars to 12.8 billion dollars.
"South Africa considers the UNFCCC and its mechanisms essential for addressing climate change and believes it is the only legitimate forum for nations to engage in collaborative climate action," stated Dorah Modise, PCC Executive Director.
Modise reaffirmed the government's dedication to mobilizing both global and local actions against climate change and urged development partners to remain committed.
"South Africa is firmly resolved to achieving a just and equitable energy transition and has made significant progress on this path. We urge all other IPG partners to continue supporting South Africa's decarbonization efforts," Modise added.
Modise highlighted that enhancing resilience in climate-vulnerable urban regions and integrating mitigation strategies with economic development are critical priorities for the PCC this year.
Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that reshaped US climate policy, canceling the International Climate Finance Plan established by the previous administration, which included commitments related to the JETP.
