What You Need to Know
South Africa has accepted the appointment of Brent Bozel as the new US ambassador, a move that comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries. The South African government announced that the ambassador’s accreditation ceremony will take place in April, with President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance.
Africa-Press. The South African government has announced its acceptance of the new American envoy, Brent Bozel, known for his sharp criticisms of its policies, as the ambassador to Washington in South Africa. This move comes amid rising tensions between the two countries. The Foreign Ministry stated that the ambassador’s accreditation ceremony will take place in April, with President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance. An official from the US State Department confirmed that Bozel “looks forward to starting his duties and representing America First.”
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have seen repeated disagreements over international and local issues, most notably the genocide case South Africa filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The United States expelled South Africa’s ambassador from its territory in March, further escalating diplomatic tensions.
A Controversial Figure
Bozel is a prominent figure in American right-wing circles and is the founder of a media research center that claims to combat “leftist bias” in the media. He sparked widespread controversy during a Senate hearing when he stated that he would pressure Pretoria to drop its case against Israel. He also criticized South Africa’s relations with Russia, China, and Iran, which conducted naval exercises with South Africa earlier this year. Bozel reiterated claims made by the Trump administration regarding alleged “discrimination” and “genocide” against the white Afrikaner minority in South Africa, claims that the Pretoria government has repeatedly denied.
In the past, Bozel’s media organization was criticized in 1990 for failing to label Nelson Mandela as a “terrorist” during his tour of the United States after his release from prison. During the recent Senate hearing, Bozel attempted to justify his previous stance by referencing the African National Congress’s ties to the Soviet Union at the time, but he affirmed that Mandela has become the figure he holds the “greatest respect” for in South Africa.
It is noteworthy that Bozel’s son, Leo Brent Bozel IV, was among those convicted in the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and received a presidential pardon from Trump last year.
The diplomatic relationship between the United States and South Africa has been complex and often contentious, particularly in recent years. Disagreements have arisen over various international and local issues, including South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Tensions escalated further when the US expelled South Africa’s ambassador in March, highlighting the fragile state of their diplomatic ties.
