US President Donald Trump has recalled Richard Mills, United States ambassador to Nigeria.
US official described the development as a part of a broader reshuffle of nearly 30 ambassadorial and senior embassy positions worldwide.
The move is part of an effort to align US diplomatic representation abroad with President Donald Trump’s “America First” priorities.
State Department officials, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that the ambassadors affected by the shake-up had initially been appointed during the Biden administration but will now end their tenures in January.
While the diplomats will return to Washington for other assignments if they wish, their postings as chiefs of mission will conclude.
Africa has been the region most affected by the recalls, with ambassadors from 13 countries, including Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Uganda, among those removed. Other regions affected include the Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.
The State Department described the changes as a “standard process in any administration,” noting that ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president and are meant to advance the administration’s policy priorities.