Trump recalls US envoy to Nigeria as part of “America First” diplomatic overhaul

Donald Trump, the United States president, has ordered the recall of Richard Mills, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, along with a wave of career diplomats stationed across Africa and other regions, in a sweeping realignment of America’s diplomatic corps to reflect his “America First” foreign policy agenda.

According to a report by Politico and other U.S media reports, the move affects ambassadors who were originally appointed during the Joe Biden administration and will see their tenures end in January 2026. While the diplomats are not being dismissed from the foreign service, they will return to Washington for potential reassignment, as their roles as chiefs of mission come to a close.

Africa has emerged as the hardest-hit region, with envoys from 13 countries—including Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Uganda—among those recalled. Diplomats in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere have also been affected, though to a lesser extent.

A State Department official, speaking on background, confirmed the reshuffle and described it as consistent with presidential prerogative. “An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” read a department statement, which added that such transitions are a “standard process in any administration.”

The decision has nonetheless sparked concern among foreign policy observers and within the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the union representing US diplomats. Lawmakers, particularly those focused on US-Africa relations, have also voiced unease over the abrupt nature of the changes.

For Nigeria—a strategic partner in West Africa on counterterrorism, economic development, and democratic governance—the departure of Ambassador Mills marks a significant shift in bilateral engagement. Analysts warn the move could temporarily disrupt ongoing diplomatic initiatives and complicate coordination on shared security priorities, including efforts against Boko Haram and regional stabilisation programmes.

Although the recalled officials retain their positions within the State Department, the scale and timing of the reshuffle signal a deliberate pivot in US global posture, underscoring the Trump administration’s emphasis on aligning diplomatic missions with its domestic-centric policy framework.

Embassies in affected nations are expected to operate under interim leadership—often deputies or chargés d’affaires—until new nominees are confirmed, a process that could take months amid a divided Senate.

Business Day