By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
United States, 22 December 2025 The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has recalled American ambassadors from 15 African countries, including Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti, in a move described as unusual and part of a broader effort to reorganize U.S. diplomatic representation abroad.
According to information circulating within diplomatic circles, the list of African countries affected spans multiple regions of the continent. It includes Egypt and Algeria in North Africa, as well as countries in the Horn of Africa, East, West, Central and Southern Africa, with no official explanation provided for the recalls or a clear timeline for filling the vacant posts.
In the Horn of Africa, the decision affected U.S. ambassadors to Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti, a strategically significant region for Washington due to international shipping lanes, U.S. military presence, and counterterrorism priorities.
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In North Africa, Egypt and Algeria were among the countries included, both considered key regional partners for the United States on security and energy issues.
In East Africa, the recalls covered countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan, while West Africa included Nigeria, Senegal, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire. The move also extended to Central Africa, including Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to Southern Africa, with Zambia listed among the affected countries.
The development comes at a time when U.S. diplomacy is already facing a growing number of ambassadorial vacancies worldwide, raising questions about the impact of the decision on political and security coordination and on American influence in Africa, particularly amid intensifying international competition on the continent.
