The expulsion followed Rasool's critical comments about U.S. President Donald Trump during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank.
Rasool was labeled "persona non grata" by the U.S. government, a move he viewed as an attempt to humiliate him. However, he embraced the label, calling it a "badge of honor" and expressed his pride in returning to a place where "Ubuntu" (the African philosophy of interconnectedness) is valued.
Rasool spoke about South Africa's approach to diplomacy, highlighting "the diplomacy of Ubuntu" as the art of speaking truth gently, not flattering others, and engaging in intellectual conversations. He emphasized that despite conventional diplomacy's challenges, South Africa must continue to uphold its values.
Rasool expressed hope that President Cyril Ramaphosa would find someone to repair the relationship with the U.S. while preserving South Africa's dignity.
Despite criticism from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rasool believed his message reached the highest levels of the U.S. government, proving that the diplomacy of Ubuntu had worked.
Rasool's expulsion was announced by Rubio, who described him as a "race-baiting politician" and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
Rasool is set to report the details of the incident to President Ramaphosa, who has downplayed the expulsion as a minor setback in relations between the two nations.
IGIHE
