Cape Town – Former President Thabo Mbeki has criticised expelled South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, for making inappropriate comments about his host country’s leader.
Speaking at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Mbeki explained that ambassadors must adhere to diplomatic protocols and avoid publicly criticizing their host nation’s president.
Rasool was declared persona non grata in the US after remarks about former President Donald Trump and the rise of white supremacy.
Mbeki said he was not surprised by Rasool’s expulsion, as such comments would naturally strain diplomatic relations.
“The matter of ensuring that there are good relations is critically important as an ambassador. You are allowed what is a policy position. You can’t go around expressing negative opinions about your host. Ebrahim Rasool is an old friend of mine and a comrade but in this instance, he made a mistake. He said things about his host president which he should not have said,” Mbeki said.
Former President Thabo Mbeki on the role of an Ambassador. pic.twitter.com/VX4Whpc3E7
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“When I saw this and saw this persona non grata, I wasn’t surprised because it means, practically, you make an assessment of your host president, which is negative, then you want to sit with that president tomorrow? They won’t agree,” Mbeki said.
Although Rasool was expelled from the United States, Mbeki emphasised that South Africa should maintain diplomatic engagement with President Trump’s administration.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
