President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce US financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land policy and its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The White House also announced plans to resettle white South African farmers as refugees in the US. South Africa criticized the order, calling it lacking in factual accuracy and highlighting the economic privilege of white South Africans.
: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, the White House said on Friday, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington’s ally Israel .
The White House said Washington will also formulate a plan to resettle white South African farmers and their families as refugees. Trump has said, without citing evidence, that South Africa is confiscating land and that certain classes of people are treated “very badly.” Ramaphosa also has said South Africa “will not be bullied.” Washington also has complained about the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of genocide over its military offensive in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis. Israel denies the allegations, saying it acted in self-defense following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian Hamas militants.
In the 30 years that the African National Congress has been in power, some land restitution has happened under a “willing buyer, willing seller” model, but white landowners still possess three-quarters of South Africa’s freehold farmland. This contrasts with 4% owned by Black people.AfriForum, a right-wing lobby group, and the mainly white Solidarity Movement expressed appreciation for Trump’s recognition of “injustice” against Afrikaners but regretted the withdrawal of aid.
SOUTH AFRICA US AID LAND POLICY ISRAEL GENOCIDE