By Ayo Kehinde
The United States government has recalled its Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., as part of a sweeping diplomatic reshuffle ordered by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Mills, who assumed office on July 25, 2024, is among at least 29 career diplomats whose tenures as chiefs of mission and senior embassy officials are being brought to an early end.
The move is part of a broader effort by Washington to realign the U.S. foreign service with President Trump’s “America First” agenda.
According to reports, chiefs of mission in no fewer than 29 countries were informed last week that their assignments would conclude in January 2026.
Two State Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that while these diplomats are career professionals rather than political appointees, their Biden-era appointments are being terminated to make way for new leadership.
Africa has emerged as the continent most impacted by the shake-up, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries.
The affected missions include Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda. In the Asia-Pacific region, changes affect Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
In Europe, Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia are affected, while other regions include Algeria, Egypt, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, and Suriname.
While ambassadors traditionally serve at the pleasure of the President for terms typically lasting three to four years, the abrupt recall of career diplomats—who usually survive transitions between administrations—is considered an unusual move.
The State Department emphasised that the affected individuals are not being dismissed from the Foreign Service but are expected to return to Washington for reassignment.
Defending the decision, the State Department described it as a standard process, noting that an ambassador serves as a personal representative of the President.
The administration maintained it is within the President’s prerogative to ensure that envoys in key countries are fully aligned with the administration’s strategic priorities.
