Orania separatists seek Trump's backing for autonomy bid

• Where and when? A group of white separatists from Orania, the only town in South Africa inhabited exclusively by whites, travelled to the USA last week.
• Why? The purpose of the visit was to gain support from President Donald Trump in their pursuit of autonomy from the government in Pretoria.
• What’s next? The separatists met with Republican Party politicians, arguing that central governance in South Africa is ineffective.

A group of white separatists from Orania, a town in the Republic of South Africa, have appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump for help in gaining independence from the government in Pretoria.

Joost Strydom, leader of the Orania Movement, stressed that their objective is to preserve Afrikaner culture, rather than to promote racism.

The South African government has consistently rejected Orania's aspirations for independence, emphasising national unity and the constitutional illegality of racial enclaves. Nonetheless, the approximately 3,000 residents of Orania strive for self-governance that will allow them to maintain their language, culture, and economic interests.

The town, founded in 1991, has its own currency and pursues a policy aimed at preserving Afrikaner culture.

Orania's leaders met with Republican Party politicians in the USA, convincing them that the diversity of South Africa makes central governance ineffective. The separatists wish to capitalise on President Trump's unfavourable view of the current South African government, which he believes is influenced by racism against white Afrikaners.