United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, has announced his resignation, effective January 2025.
Brigety, who was appointed by the outgoing President Joe Biden, will resign shortly before the inauguration of Donald Trump.
The Republicans also secured a majority in the US House of Representatives, and Trump’s upcoming administration is anticipated to introduce substantial policy changes that may alter US foreign relations.
One expected area of focus is a more protectionist stance on trade, raising concerns regarding South Africa’s future under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
Agoa, a vital agreement that promotes trade between the US and African countries, has served as an economic lifeline for South Africa, bolstering numerous jobs and industries.
In his resignation announcement on Monday, Brigety cited the democratic process as the reason for his departure.
“US ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and with the recent election, the American people have expressed their choice for the future direction of our country, reflecting our shared commitment to democratic principles,” he said.
Brigety’s term, which commenced in August 2022, was marked by a significant diplomatic incident in May 2023, during which he alleged that South Africa had facilitated the docking of weapons for Russia on the vessel Lady R at the Simon’s Town naval base.
These unsubstantiated claims led to heightened tensions between Pretoria and Washington.
The South African government categorically refuted the allegations, while the repercussions caused a decline in the value of the rand and raised concerns regarding deteriorating relations with Western allies.
Nevertheless, Brigety maintained his stance on the allegations, further escalating tensions with South African officials.
This comes a week after the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, stepped down from her position.
In her announcement, she disclosed that she had presented her resignation letter to President Joe Biden.
Whitman characterized her tenure as the US ambassador as an “honour and privilege,” noting that during her time in office, the United States successfully enhanced its partnership with Kenya.
“Today, I announced to my team at the U.S. embassy that I submitted my resignation to President Biden. It has been an honour and privilege to serve the American people through strengthening our partnership with Kenya,” the statement read in part.
She added, “I am proud of leading a people-centred agenda that saves lives, increases security, and creates economic opportunities for Kenyans and Americans. From delivering emergency funding to alleviate catastrophic flooding in 2023 to the ongoing fight against malaria, HIV, and MPOX, the US government prioritizes the health and welfare of our friends in Kenya.”
