US ambassador Bozell démarched again as Pretoria-Washington tensions escalate
The step followed media interviews by Bozell in which he accused the government of failing to respond to the White House's demands for a diplomatic reset.
The United States (US) Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, has once again received a démarche from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) due to his unseemly behavior. This is the second démarche issued against Bozell in recent months. In March, he was reprimanded for making insensitive remarks about the 'Kill the Boer' chant, which Bozell called hate speech.
In the latest démarche, Bozell was summoned to explain his recent sharp criticism of South Africa's handling of US demands. His comments focused on President Donald Trump's eight-point list of issues that Pretoria must address, including rural safety, investment security, and other strategic matters. Bozell accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of failing to respond to these demands, which led to the new visa restrictions imposed on South African nationals by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite Bozell's warnings, Dirco maintains that both countries are committed to resolving their outstanding bilateral issues.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- ENVOY SCOLDED: US ambassador Bozell demarched by SA government dailymaverick.co.za
