South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a former apartheid-era negotiator, as the country's next ambassador to the United States. According to local media reports, this move comes after a turbulent year in diplomatic relations between South Africa and Washington.
Key Takeaways
South Africa has appointed Roelf Meyer as its next ambassador to the United States. The move aims to improve relations after a turbulent year marked by diplomatic tensions. According to local media reports, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the appointment through his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
- South African president appoints former apartheid-era negotiator Roelf Meyer as US ambassador
- Appointment follows expulsion of previous ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March 2025
- Roelf Meyer was a chief negotiator during talks to end white minority rule in the 1990s
- The appointment aims to improve strained relations between South Africa and Washington
The appointment was confirmed by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya who told Reuters that Meyer would be taking up his post once all protocols were complete. The position has been vacant since March 2025, when the Trump administration expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for criticizing the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
The appointment of Roelf Meyer is seen as a strategic move to improve relations between Pretoria and Washington after a turbulent year. According to Al Jazeera, tensions escalated when Trump issued an executive order freezing most foreign assistance to South Africa amid the country’s legal action at the International Court of Justice over Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The 78-year-old Meyer is known for his role as a chief negotiator during talks to end white minority rule in the 1990s. He served as a minister under the apartheid Nationalist Party government and later joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 2006.
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