United States President Donald Trump has ordered the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, to return home as part of a sweeping diplomatic reorganization affecting envoys in 24 countries across multiple continents.
Mills, who was confirmed as US ambassador to Nigeria only last May, is among dozens of recalled envoys in what represents a significant shake-up of American diplomatic representation worldwide by the Trump administration.
The recall affects at least 15 countries on the African continent, including Nigeria, Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
In the Asia-Pacific region, ambassadors to Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam are being recalled. European nations affected include Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia, while Guatemala and Suriname are impacted in the western hemisphere.
State Department officials told Guardian UK that the chiefs of mission were informed last week that their tenures would end in January, signaling an abrupt conclusion to their diplomatic assignments.
The affected ambassadors were deployed during the administration of former President Joe Biden but had retained their positions under the Trump administration until the fresh directive emerged. It is understood that the envoys have begun receiving formal notices from Washington, DC, regarding their imminent departures.
Traditionally, ambassadors serve at their posts for between three and four years, making the recall of Mills particularly notable given his recent appointment. His tenure of less than a year falls significantly short of the typical diplomatic posting period.
The mass recall represents one of the most extensive diplomatic personnel changes in recent American history and signals President Trump’s intention to reshape US foreign representation according to his administration’s priorities and preferences.
The move has raised questions about the continuity of American diplomatic efforts in affected countries, particularly in Africa where the United States has been competing with China and Russia for influence. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, holds strategic importance for US interests on the continent.
The State Department has not provided detailed explanations for the individual recalls, though such diplomatic reshuffles are not uncommon when new administrations take office. However, the scale and timing of these changes, affecting nearly two dozen countries simultaneously, are unusual.
The recall of Ambassador Mills comes at a time when US-Nigeria relations have faced some strain, including recent travel restrictions imposed by the Trump administration that placed Nigeria under partial entry restrictions over security and vetting concerns.
It remains unclear who will replace Mills as US ambassador to Nigeria or when a new envoy might be nominated and confirmed by the Senate. In the interim, embassy operations in Abuja are expected to be managed by career diplomats serving in acting capacities.
The diplomatic shake-up also raises questions about the impact on ongoing bilateral initiatives, security cooperation, trade relations and development programs between the United States and affected nations.
