Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, has appointed former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as Pretoria’s special envoy to Washington, where he will work to repair strained relations with the White House. Since President Donald Trump began his second term, ties have soured between South Africa and the US. The diplomatic rift between both countries is centered on Trump’s disapproval of Pretoria’s land reform approach and its genocide case against Israel. Jonas will focus on advancing South Africa’s diplomatic, trade, and bilateral interests, fostering partnerships, and engaging with US officials. While the task is challenging, he believes that mutual interests can help restore the longstanding ties between the two nations.
Source: Reuters
