America First: Trump Orders Global Ambassadorial Shake-Up

A Major Diplomatic Shake-Up
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has recalled US ambassadors and senior diplomatic officials from at least 29 countries, including Nigeria, as part of a sweeping effort to realign US foreign representation with his administration’s “America First” priorities.

The recall affects mostly career diplomats appointed during the Biden administration, marking a shift from earlier purges that focused on political appointees.

Africa Most Impacted
Africa accounts for more than half of the affected countries, with ambassadors recalled from Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia and several others. The scale of the move has drawn concern from diplomatic circles, particularly over its potential impact on US engagement in security-sensitive regions.

State Department officials told the Associated Press that the diplomats were informed their assignments would end in January, although they remain members of the foreign service.

Official Justification
While the State Department has not released an official list of affected envoys, it described the recalls as standard procedure, emphasising that ambassadors are personal representatives of the president. The department said it is within the president’s authority to ensure diplomatic missions reflect his policy direction.

Silence From Abuja
In Nigeria, the US Mission has not publicly addressed the recall of Ambassador Richard Mills. Only days earlier, Mills defended upcoming US visa restrictions, saying they were aimed at strengthening border security rather than targeting Nigerians.