South African President Calls White Afrikaners Fleeing to US 'Cowards'

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized a group of about 60 white Afrikaners who relocated to the U.S. under a resettlement program initiated by the Trump administration, calling their departure a 'cowardly act' and expressing confidence they would return. The group was granted expedited refugee status by the U.S., based on claims of racial discrimination against Afrikaner farmers, an assertion strongly denied by South African authorities who refute allegations of a 'genocide' or targeted violence. Ramaphosa emphasized resilience among South Africans and urged citizens to confront domestic challenges rather than flee, framing the emigration as a rejection of South Africa's efforts to address apartheid-era inequalities, including land reform measures. The arrival of Afrikaners in the U.S. was welcomed by American officials, with contrasting views from figures like Rick Stengel, who condemned the acceptance of descendants of apartheid leaders. Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum condemned Ramaphosa's remarks as insulting and argued that the president should acknowledge factors contributing to Afrikaner alienation, including rising violence and exclusion. The issue highlights deep divisions over race, historical legacy, and current socio-political challenges in South Africa, alongside contrasting international perspectives on refugee status and migration.