South African president appoints former deputy finance minister as special envoy to US amid strained relations

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy to the United States.

“Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa’s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests,” Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement.

Jonas was South Africa’s deputy finance minister between 2014 and 2017, and is currently an independent non-executive chairman of telecommunications company MTN GroupMTNJ.J, a role he will continue to hold alongside the envoy position.

Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have soured badly since U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January.

The U.S. has cut financial aid to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land reform policies and its genocide case against Washington’s ally “Israel” at the International Court of Justice, and expelled South Africa’s ambassador last month.