South Africa summons new US ambassador over undiplomatic remarks'

"We have called in the ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Bozell, to explain his undiplomatic remarks. The summons comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump continues to heap pressure on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government, based on claims that white Afrikaners face persecution in the country."

"South Africa's government leaders, including top Afrikaner officials, have acknowledged that crime remains high in the country, but they have rejected that notion that white Afrikaners are being specifically targeted. They have noted that Black residents face a higher crime rate."

"The tensions came to a head last year when Trump confronted Ramaphosa during an Oval Office meeting in May, presenting images and videos he claimed were evidence of efforts to violently persecute white Afrikaners. Several subsequent analyses found the images were misrepresented, in some cases depicting violence in other countries."

South Africa's government summoned US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III to explain undiplomatic remarks following the Trump administration's continued pressure on President Ramaphosa regarding alleged persecution of white Afrikaners. The US has imposed tariffs on South Africa, extended refugee status to white Afrikaners, and halted resettlements for other refugee groups based on discrimination claims. South African leaders, including top Afrikaner officials, reject these allegations, noting that Black residents face higher crime rates. Trump previously confronted Ramaphosa with images and videos claiming to show persecution, though analyses revealed these were misrepresented, sometimes depicting violence from other countries. Ambassador Bozell, a conservative media advocate and Trump ally, took his post last month.

Read at www.aljazeera.com