US-South Africa Ties: Trump Rejects Diplomatic Visa for Ramaphosa's Special Envoy
US-South Africa Ties: Trump Rejects Diplomatic Visa for Ramaphosa's Special Envoy | Firstpost Africa | N18G
The ties between South Africa and the US continue to deteriorate. In the latest, the American authorities have denied a diplomatic visa to President Cyril Ramaphosa's special envoy, Mcebisi Jonas. The Trump administration allegedly refused to recognise him as South Africa's "official interlocutor". The visa was denied in May, but the revelation was recently made by the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-biggest party in Ramaphosa's coalition government after his African National Congress (ANC). After the DA's claim, the President's office accused the party of spreading "disinformation", adding that the party is sensationalising the matter. Jonas had made controversial remarks about US President Trump, calling him "racist" and a "narcissistic right-winger" in the past. Visa rejection is a part of a series of steps taken by the US to isolate South Africa, including skipping the G20 summit, not inviting Ramaphosa to the Africa Summit in Washington and announcing 30% tariffs on South African goods.
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