Rasool Says Hes Been In Tougher Situations

The outgoing South African Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool says hes been in tougher situations, but was confident that the country would survive this moment.

Speaking to SABC News after his expulsion from the country by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for remarks made during a webinar linked to the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, Rasool said South Africa should not lose the momentum they had been building towards direct engagement with the US administration of President Donald Trump.

Rasool spoke to us off the record but appeared to be in good spirits despite the decision to expel him from the United States. He has been given until next Friday to depart the country , capping a tumultuous three-month stint after presenting his credentials to former President Joe Biden on January 13th, a week before Donald Trump was inaugurated.

The US Secretary of State accused Rasool of being a race-baiting politician who hated America and President Trump.

Coming to Rasools defence the non-profit US-based Muslim Public Affairs Council called him a principled leader who dedicated his career to democracy and interfaith cooperation and that they would continue to stand by him.