US suspends aid to South Africa following Trump executive order

The United States has suspended most of its foreign assistance to South Africa following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.

The directive, which was implemented on March 6, enforces Executive Order 14204, targeting what the Trump administration called "egregious actions" by South Africa, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The order mandates that all US State Department entities immediately pause aid disbursements to South Africa, with a few exceptions. "To effectively implement EO 14204, all bureaus, offices and missions shall pause all obligations and/or dispersion of aid or assistance to South Africa," reads the cable, signed by the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

This move follows the executive order issued on February 7, which was part of a broader reassessment of US foreign aid and a temporary pause on certain assistance pending review. The order specifically cites “unjust racial discrimination” against white Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch colonizers who enforced apartheid until 1994.

The stance is also seen as influenced by Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire and Trump ally, who has been a vocal critic of what he calls “openly racist policies” in his homeland. Musk, who heads the administration's government efficiency team, is widely believed to have played a role in shaping this policy.

Pete Marocco, a Trump loyalist known for overseeing the reduction of foreign aid programs, has been tasked with determining which aid programs should continue. According to the cable, “there is a very high bar for such requests.” The only program exempt from additional review is Pepfar, the US global HIV/AIDS program that provides life-saving treatment to millions in South Africa. All other aid programs require special permission.

This aid freeze is the latest development in the increasingly strained relations between the US and South Africa. Tensions began when Trump accused South Africa of using land laws to discriminate against white citizens, a claim rejected by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The freeze also follows South Africa's efforts to propose a new trade deal with the US amid growing concerns over the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

By Vafa Guliyeva