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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24910, member: 2262"] US Sanctions Target South Africa Over Land Reform Law. President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe said South Africa faces unjust punishment from the United States, drawing parallels to Zimbabwe's own experience with sanctions following its land reform initiatives. Speaking at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after returning from a joint SADC-East African Community summit in Tanzania, Mnangagwa emphasized the shared resilience of both nations against foreign pressure. He stated that South Africa acted in its national interest, similar to Zimbabwe's past actions. The United States announced sanctions against South Africa, citing the recently enacted Expropriation Act. The US claims the law discriminates against ethnic minority Afrikaners. South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation responded by defending its position, stating the US executive order lacks factual basis. President Donald Trump's administration moved beyond aid restrictions, establishing provisions for Afrikaner refugee admissions into the United States. South Africa termed this decision counterintuitive, noting that Afrikaners remain among the most economically privileged groups in the country. The Expropriation Act, signed into law on January 23, permits land expropriation without compensation under specific circumstances. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the legislation as a means to ensure fair public access to land and address historical inequities from the apartheid era. The US executive order also criticized South Africa's foreign policy positions, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and strengthened ties with Iran. These actions, according to Washington, undermine US foreign policy and present national security risks. Diplomatic tensions between the nations intensified during Trump's first term, marked by limited engagement and trade disputes. Relations deteriorated further under the Biden administration when South Africa maintained neutrality regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and faced allegations of supplying weapons to Russia. President Ramaphosa addressed these pressures in his State of the Nation address, declaring South Africa's determination to maintain its sovereignty. He emphasized the nation's resilience and unity in defending its constitutional democracy against international pressure. The situation mirrors Zimbabwe's experience with US sanctions imposed after its Fast-Track Land Reform Programme. Both African nations maintain their right to implement domestic policies despite international opposition, highlighting ongoing tensions between African sovereignty and Western interests. [/QUOTE]

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