United States President Donald Trump has ordered the recall of the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., along with senior diplomats posted to 29 other countries, in a sweeping diplomatic reshuffle by his administration.
The affected ambassadors have reportedly been informed that their assignments will end by January 2026. Many of them were appointed during the previous administration and had remained in office during the early phase of Trump’s return to power.
U.S. officials explained that the recalls are part of efforts to realign America’s diplomatic representation abroad with the administration’s foreign policy priorities, stressing that ambassadors serve at the discretion of the president and can be replaced at any time.
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Africa appears to be the most affected region in the shake-up, with ambassadors in several African countries, including Nigeria, among those recalled. Diplomatic postings in parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas are also impacted.
The U.S. State Department clarified that the recalled diplomats are not being dismissed from service. Rather, they are expected to return to Washington for reassignment or other duties within the Foreign Service, depending on administrative decisions.
The recall of the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria comes at a time of ongoing cooperation between the two countries in areas such as security, economic relations, and development. It is expected to be followed by new diplomatic appointments in line with the administration’s direction.
