The Trump administration has announced the recall of nearly 30 career diplomats serving in ambassadorial and senior embassy positions as part of efforts to realign U.S. foreign policy with its “America First” agenda.
According to two State Department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the affected chiefs of mission were informed last week that their tenures would end in January.
Among those impacted are ambassadors serving in 13 African nations: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda. The move has drawn attention due to the significant representation of African postings in the reshuffle.
Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the U.S. president, though they typically remain in their positions for three to four years regardless of changes in administration.
Officials emphasized that the diplomats being recalled are not being dismissed from the Foreign Service. Instead, they will return to Washington and may be assigned to other roles within the State Department should they choose to continue their service.
The recall reflects a broader review of diplomatic leadership as the administration seeks to ensure alignment with its foreign policy priorities.
While routine during transitions, the scale of the move has sparked debate about its potential impact on U.S. relations abroad, particularly across Africa.
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