United States President Donald Trump has recalled the US ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, along with nearly 30 other career diplomats serving as ambassadors around the world. The move, first reported by Politico, is part of a broader plan to align US diplomatic representation abroad with Trump’s America First priorities.
A State Department official said the ambassadors affected were appointed under the Joe Biden administration and will end their postings in January. While they will return to Washington, they are not being dismissed from the foreign service and can take up new assignments within the department if they choose.
Africa is the region most affected by the reshuffle, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries, including Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Uganda. Other recalls cover envoys in parts of the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and the Western Hemisphere.
In a statement, the State Department described the changes as a standard process that can occur in any administration. It stressed that ambassadors are personal representatives of the president and that it is the president’s right to ensure envoys abroad are fully aligned with his policy agenda.
The shake up is expected to force adjustments in embassy operations and ongoing diplomatic initiatives in the affected countries. Some lawmakers and the American Foreign Service Association have expressed concern about the scale and timing of the recalls, warning of potential disruptions.
For Nigeria, the departure of Ambassador Mills comes at a time of heightened focus on US Africa relations. Nigeria remains a key US partner on regional security, economic cooperation and development programmes, meaning Washington’s choice of a new envoy will be closely watched in both capitals.
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