The Trump administration has begun recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy positions worldwide, signalling a major reshaping of the United States’ diplomatic posture in line with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.

According to two U.S. State Department officials, the chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were informed last week that their tenures would end in January. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel decisions.

All those affected were appointed during the Biden administration and had initially survived an early purge carried out in the first months of Trump’s second term, which largely targeted political appointees. That situation changed on Wednesday, when the diplomats began receiving formal notices from Washington, DC, informing them of their impending departures.

Although ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, they typically remain in office for three to four years. The State Department officials clarified that the recalled diplomats are not being dismissed from the Foreign Service and may return to Washington for other assignments if they choose.

While declining to comment on the exact number of diplomats affected, the State Department defended the recalls, describing them as a routine aspect of any administration. It stressed that ambassadors act as personal representatives of the president and that it is within the president’s authority to ensure that individuals serving abroad actively advance his policy priorities.

Africa has been the region most impacted by the changes, with ambassadors being recalled from 15 countries: Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda.

The Asia-Pacific region follows, with ambassadorial changes affecting six countries: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

In Europe, four countries are affected: Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia. Two countries each in South Asia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and in the Western Hemisphere, Guatemala and Suriname, are also impacted by the shake-up.

Politico first reported the ambassadorial recalls, which have since drawn concern from some U.S. lawmakers as well as the union representing American diplomats, amid fears that the move could disrupt diplomatic continuity and weaken U.S. engagement in key regions.

______________________________________________________________________ “Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In NigeriaA timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: A Comprehensive Guide”, authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626