US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting financial aid to South Africa, escalating a diplomatic clash between the two nations. The move comes after Trump accused the South African government of violating human rights through its controversial land reform law.
The executive order also addresses South Africa’s actions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where the country has accused Israel of genocide, further fueling tensions. Trump’s decision follows earlier threats made this week to withdraw aid if South Africa continued its land expropriation policy, which he claimed was discriminatory.
Trump’s close adviser, Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, also criticized the policy, describing the land law as “openly racist.” President Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to comment officially, though he defended the policy, stating that no land had been seized and the law was aimed at promoting equal land access for all citizens.
South Africa’s new law allows land expropriation without compensation in cases where it is deemed “just and equitable,” such as when property is abandoned or poses a risk to public safety. This law comes 30 years after the end of apartheid, a period during which most private farmland in South Africa remained in the hands of white landowners.
The US executive order condemns the South African government for violating rights and warns that as long as the land reform law persists, no US aid will be provided. The US also plans to assist Afrikaners, mainly descendants of Dutch and French settlers, by resettling them as refugees.
Additionally, the order cites South Africa’s controversial stance on Israel at the ICJ, where the country supported genocide accusations against Israel and strengthened ties with Iran, further aggravating relations with the US.
In an attempt to ease tensions, Ramaphosa reached out to Musk, reiterating South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law and fairness. Despite the controversy, Ramaphosa’s office remains firm in defending the land reform policy, which aims to address long-standing inequalities in land ownership in the country.
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