By LEVI JOHNSON
President Donald Trump has recalled the United States ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., along with 29 other senior diplomats from ambassadorial and key embassy postings worldwide, in one of the most extensive diplomatic reshuffles of his second term.
Ambassador Mills, who assumed office on July 25, 2024, is among 13 ambassadors from African countries affected by the move. Officials say the action aligns with Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, aimed at ensuring presidential representatives abroad closely advance the administration’s agenda.
Global Impact of the Recall
According to Associated Press (AP), most of the affected diplomats were appointed during the Biden administration but continued to serve under Trump’s early months in office. They were informed last week that their tenures would officially end in January 2026.
“Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president,” an anonymous source told AP, noting that postings typically last three to four years. Those recalled are not being removed from the Foreign Service and may be reassigned to Washington-based roles if they choose to continue their service.
The US State Department described the move as a “standard process in any administration” and emphasized that ambassadors are the president’s personal representatives. The department stated:
“It is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”
Africa Bears the Brunt
Africa was the most affected region, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries, including:
Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda
The Asia-Pacific region saw six ambassadorial changes, including Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Additional recalls occurred in Europe (Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovakia), the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt), South Asia (Nepal, Sri Lanka), and the Western Hemisphere (Guatemala, Suriname).
Implications for US Diplomacy
Washington insiders describe the recall as a strategic effort to reshape diplomatic representation worldwide, ensuring alignment with Trump’s foreign policy priorities. Observers note that such large-scale recalls are uncommon and signal a potential reorientation of US diplomatic engagement, particularly in Africa, which has been a focus of US strategic interests in recent years.
The recall underscores the centralized power of the presidency in determining ambassadorial appointments, reaffirming that envoys act as the personal emissaries of the president.
This decision comes amid broader discussions about the US’s evolving diplomatic posture globally, with analysts watching closely how the new appointments will impact bilateral relations in Africa and beyond.
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