United States President Donald Trump has ordered the recall of the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, alongside several other career diplomats serving as ambassadors across the world, in a sweeping shake-up of America’s diplomatic corps.
The move, first reported by Politico, is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to realign U.S. diplomatic representation overseas with the president’s “America First” foreign policy doctrine.
A State Department official confirmed that the ambassadors affected by the decision were largely appointed under former President Joe Biden and will formally conclude their tenures as chiefs of mission in January. While the diplomats are expected to return to Washington, they may continue their careers within the Foreign Service in other roles if they choose.
Africa has been hit hardest by the recall, with ambassadors withdrawn from at least 13 countries.
Those affected include Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Uganda. The shake-up also extends beyond Africa, touching postings in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.
In a statement, the State Department downplayed the development, describing it as a routine transition that typically accompanies a change in administration.
It stressed that ambassadors serve at the discretion of the president and are expected to reflect and advance the sitting administration’s policy priorities.
The Department stated, “An ambassador is the personal representative of the president. It is the president’s prerogative to ensure that individuals serving in these roles are aligned with and actively promoting the America First agenda.”
Officials were quick to clarify that the recalled diplomats are not being dismissed from service, noting that they remain members of the U.S. Foreign Service and are eligible for reassignment within the State Department.
Nevertheless, the abrupt nature of the recall is expected to disrupt embassy operations and ongoing diplomatic initiatives in several countries.
In Nigeria, the departure of the U.S. ambassador has attracted attention amid renewed focus on U.S.-Africa relations.
Some American lawmakers and the American Foreign Service Association, which represents U.S. diplomats, have expressed concern over the scale and timing of the recalls.
For Abuja, the exit of the U.S. envoy represents a significant shift in diplomatic engagement at a time when Nigeria remains a strategic partner to Washington on regional security, economic cooperation and development programmes across West Africa.
