Donald Trump freezes U.S. aid to South Africa over land law and ICJ case against Israel
\U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting financial assistance to South Africa, citing concerns over its new land policy and its role in bringing genocide accusations against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The decision follows Trump’s earlier threats, where he claimed, without providing evidence, that “South Africa is confiscating land” and that “certain classes of people” were being treated “very badly.”
The executive order states that the U.S. “cannot support the government of South Africa’s commission of rights violations in its country” and will withhold aid as long as the policy remains in place.
Washington has also announced plans to prioritize the resettlement of white South African farmers and their families through the United States Refugee Admissions Program.
This move has drawn criticism from South Africa’s foreign ministry, which described it as “ironic” that refugee status is being extended to “a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged.”
South African-born billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in, questioning why President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government had “openly racist ownership laws.”
Ramaphosa, who signed the land bill into law last month, maintains that “the government had not confiscated any land” and that the policy is intended to address historic inequalities.
He responded to Trump’s decision by stating that South Africa “will not be bullied.”
