President Trump pulls out US ambassador from Nigeria

US President Donald Trump has ordered the recall of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, in a move seen as part of a wider reorganization of America’s diplomatic missions abroad.

According to officials at the US State Department, the decision was communicated on Wednesday, when several chiefs of mission received formal notices from Washington, DC, informing them that their postings would end in January.

The officials explained that the affected ambassadors have not been dismissed from the foreign service. Instead, they are expected to return to Washington for other duties, should they choose to remain in service.

Nigeria is one of 15 African nations impacted by the reshuffle. The others include Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda.

Of the more than 24 countries said to be affected globally, Africa recorded the highest number of recalls.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the affected countries include Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, in Europe, US ambassadors were recalled from Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia. Guatemala and Suriname were also affected in the Western Hemisphere.

All the recalled envoys were appointed during the administration of former President Joe Biden and had initially remained in their roles following an early round of diplomatic changes during the opening months of Trump’s second term, which primarily affected political appointees.

Ambassadors typically serve between three and four years. Mills was confirmed as the US ambassador to Nigeria in May 2023.

His recall comes at a time of tense relations between Washington and Abuja, driven by visa-related disagreements and security concerns, although both countries continue to engage in efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.