President Donald Trump has recalled nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial posts, including the envoy to Nigeria. The move, aimed at reshaping U.S. diplomatic posture, impacts 29 countries. Africa is the most affected continent, with 15 nations, including Egypt, Rwanda, and South Africa, seeing their U.S. ambassadors recalled.
The diplomats, all appointed under former President Joe Biden, received notices last week ending their tenures in January. State Department officials defended the action as “a standard process in any administration.” They stated that an ambassador is “a personal representative of the president” who must advance the “America First agenda.”
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has not commented on the recall of Ambassador Richard Mills. Earlier this week, Mills addressed U.S. visa restrictions, stating, “The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and credible information in the visa process, not on penalising Nigerians.” The recalls also affect posts in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South America.