Abidjan: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that white Afrikaners migrating to the United States do not qualify as "refugees." He made this statement while addressing a presidential panel with his Rwandan and Mauritanian counterparts at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Ramaphosa emphasized that refugees are individuals forced to flee their countries due to political, religious, or economic persecution.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ramaphosa remarked that South Africa is unique in Africa, as it is the only country where colonizers remained post-colonization, stating, "We have never driven them out of our country." He highlighted that Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch, German, and French settlers, were part of the apartheid regime that enforced racial segregation until 1994.

In February, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order to resettle Afrikaner refugees, describing them as victims of racial discrimination. Recent reports indicate that the first group of white South African refugees is expected to arrive in the US soon. Ramaphosa mentioned a phone conversation with Trump where he refuted these allegations, arguing that claims made by anti-transformation groups in South Africa are false.

Ramaphosa expressed his intention to visit the US for further discussions. He reiterated that Afrikaners are not being persecuted in South Africa, stating, "They are leaving ostensibly because they don't want to embrace the changes that are taking place in our country in accordance with our constitution."

The South African President also criticized the fringe groups opposing transformation and change, accusing them of longing for apartheid-era policies. Trump's executive order in February also reduced US financial assistance to South Africa, citing concerns over land expropriation policies, support for a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and increasing ties with Iran.