Move that has sent shockwaves through international politics, more than 100 parliamentarians from across the globe have signed an open letter demanding that U.S. President Donald Trump revoke his controversial executive order suspending all aid to South Africa.
The February 7 decree, which the White House claims is aimed at protecting South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority from “government-sponsored race-based discrimination,” has ignited global condemnation. Critics argue that Trump is weaponizing U.S. aid to punish a sovereign nation for pursuing policies of social and economic justice within its own borders.
“Trump’s decree is nothing short of political retaliation,” the group of MPs declared in their letter, warning that the U.S. is undermining South Africa’s right to self-determination.
The White House’s justification for the order alleges that the South African government is guilty of both racial discrimination through its Expropriation Act and of supporting terrorism abroad. “While championing terrorism and autocratic regimes abroad, South Africa has committed similar human rights violations at home,” the U.S. administration asserted in an official fact sheet.
But global leaders aren’t buying it. They argue that land reform in South Africa is a crucial step toward rectifying the deep inequalities left by apartheid, noting that white South Africans—just 8% of the population—still control 72% of freehold farmland.
“The U.S. now seeks to punish South Africa for daring to correct historic injustices,” the letter continues, calling Trump’s move a troubling throwback to the Cold War era, when Washington supported the apartheid regime and labeled Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) a terrorist organization.
The fallout from Trump’s decision is already severe, with South Africa’s foreign ministry raising concerns about U.S. interference in its domestic affairs. “We are concerned that the U.S. wants to dictate our national policies,” said ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, vowing to engage U.S. counterparts on the matter.
Beyond the political storm, the executive order is having dire humanitarian consequences. The U.S. was set to provide $439.8 million in aid to South Africa in 2023, much of it earmarked for HIV/AIDS treatment. Now, 6 million South Africans on life-saving medication could see their care disrupted, while 350,000 jobs and $7 billion in exports hang in the balance.
The group of 107 MPs, spanning from the United Kingdom and Australia to Argentina, France, Finland, Turkey, and Senegal, is now urging their own governments to step in. “This is a moment for renewed global solidarity with South Africa,” the letter states, calling on international allies to bolster trade ties and health program support to counteract Trump’s decree.
Among the signatories is former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has long championed international justice. The initiative was spearheaded by Progressive International, a movement dedicated to mobilizing progressive thinkers and activists worldwide.
With international pressure mounting, the world waits to see whether the U.S. administration will hold its ground—or bow to the global outcry.
