By Enyichukwu Enemanna
U.S President, Donald Trump has appointed a conservative activist and writer as the country’s new ambassador to South Africa, amid icy relations between Washington and Pretoria.
Leo Brent Bozell III, arrived South Africa on Monday with a promise of improving fraught ties between the two states.
Bozell is expected to present his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa before his official resumption.
Following Trump’s accusation last year that South Africa is persecuting its white minority, relations between both nations deteriorated.
The US leader also criticised South Africa’s ties with Russia and China, imposing steep tariffs on its exports in addition to blocking all aid.
Following the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool from Washington last year, South Africa has not had an ambassador in the US.
Bozell said in his Senate confirmation hearing in October last year that he would approach his ambassadorship “with respect for the South African people”, and that he saw “real opportunity for a lasting partnership” despite areas of disagreement.
Bozell said his priorities would include pressing South Africa to withdraw its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, advancing Trump’s refugee programme for white South Africans, and promoting business interests.
The first objective could heighten tensions with South Africa’s government, which regards support for Palestinian rights as a core element of its foreign policy.
Israel has denied accusations of genocide over its military campaign in Gaza and says South Africa’s case is unfounded.
While Pretoria strongly rejects claims that its white minority is persecuted, it has said it will not interfere with the U.S. refugee programme.
Bozell began his political career at the National Conservative Political Action Committee, where in the 1980s he opposed U.S. engagement with the African National Congress (ANC) as it fought to end white minority rule.
