From Dike Joseph
United States President Donald Trump has recalled the US ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, as part of a broad diplomatic overhaul affecting more than two dozen American missions worldwide, with Africa bearing the brunt of the changes.
Nigeria is among 15 African countries impacted by the recall of US envoys. Others on the continent include Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the affected countries are Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam, while Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia were impacted in Europe. Guatemala and Suriname were affected in the western hemisphere.
State Department officials told The Guardian UK that the affected ambassadors were informed last week that their tenures would end in January. Although many had initially survived an early purge during the first months of Trump’s second term — largely targeting political appointees — formal recall notices were issued from Washington on Wednesday.
According to Politico, the move is part of a wider effort to align US diplomatic representation abroad with President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy agenda. A State Department official confirmed that the recalled ambassadors were appointed under former President Joe Biden and will conclude their roles as chiefs of mission in January.
Ambassadors typically serve between three and four years. While their ambassadorial postings will end, officials said the diplomats are not being dismissed from the foreign service and may return to Washington for other assignments if they choose.
Mills, who was confirmed as US ambassador to Nigeria in May, is being recalled amid strains in US–Nigeria relations, particularly over visa restrictions and security concerns. His departure, however, comes as both countries continue efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
Only recently, Mills met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss areas of cooperation, following remarks by US Congressman Riley Moore that Washington and Abuja were close to finalising a “strategic security framework” to address terrorism in Nigeria.
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