South Africa appoints special envoy to the U.S. amid strained relations under Trump
Jonas' new posting comes at a time when Pretoria and Washington have been drifting diplomatically, especially under Trump's renewed "America First" foreign policy stance.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas as his Special Envoy to the United States, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to reset frayed diplomatic ties with Washington following the return of President Donald Trump to the White House.
Announcing the appointment on Monday, President Ramaphosa said Jonas would serve as "the official representative of the President and the government of the Republic of South Africa" in advancing the country's diplomatic, trade, and bilateral priorities.
"Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa's diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities," Ramaphosa said in an official statement.
"He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation's interests."
Jonas' new posting comes at a time when Pretoria and Washington have been drifting diplomatically, especially under Trump's renewed "America First" foreign policy stance, which has left many African capitals recalibrating their U.S. strategies.
Ramaphosa noted that Jonas brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as Deputy Finance Minister and previously as one of four Presidential Investment Envoys appointed in 2018 to woo foreign capital into South Africa.
He is also the current Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the MTN Group, a role he will maintain alongside his new responsibilities.
Ramaphosa framed the move as part of a broader effort to rebuild a historically strategic alliance, stating: "The diplomatic overture signals Pretoria's recognition that it must innovate its foreign policy toolkit, especially amid shifting global alignments and increasingly transactional bilateral relations under Trump's second administration".
Whether Jonas will have the diplomatic space to maneuver in Washington's current climate remains to be seen.
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