Trump Recalls U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria in Wide Diplomatic Reshuffle

The United States has recalled its ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., as President Donald Trump orders a broad reorganisation of Washington’s diplomatic leadership to align with his “America First” foreign policy agenda.

The decision is part of a wider recall affecting 29 U.S. ambassadors and senior envoys across multiple regions, with Africa recording the highest number of changes. Countries impacted on the continent include Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Niger, Algeria, Egypt, Uganda, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Somalia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Burundi and Gabon.

Diplomatic missions in other regions were also affected. In the Asia-Pacific, ambassadors to the Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji, Laos, Papua New Guinea and the Marshall Islands were recalled. Europe saw changes in Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia, while Nepal and Sri Lanka were affected in South Asia. Guatemala and Suriname were impacted in the Western Hemisphere.

All the recalled envoys were appointed under former President Joe Biden but had initially remained in office after Trump’s return to power, when earlier changes focused largely on political appointees.

The U.S. State Department described the recalls as routine, noting that ambassadors serve at the discretion of the president. Officials clarified that the affected diplomats are not being removed from the foreign service and may be reassigned to other roles in Washington.

The ambassadors were formally notified last week that their postings would end in January, marking one of the most extensive diplomatic overhauls of Trump’s second term.