By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, January 14, 2026 — Justin Davis has officially assumed his duties as Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, the embassy announced on Thursday. He will lead Washington’s diplomatic engagement with Somalia at a time of significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
Davis’s appointment comes as part of the second administration of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reinforce the “America First” policy framework across Africa.
The move follows President Trump’s recent decision to recall several U.S. ambassadors serving on the continent, including Richard H. Riley, the former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia. Riley, who had held the post since mid-2024, was among nearly 30 career diplomats removed from their positions as part of a broader realignment of U.S. diplomatic representation abroad.
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Justin Davis previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Somalia beginning in September 2025. In his new role, he is expected to ensure continuity in U.S.–Somalia diplomatic relations while advancing American strategic interests in the country.
The leadership transition comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Somalia, which is preparing for national elections while continuing to confront persistent security threats from al-Shabaab and ISIS. The United States remains Somalia’s largest security partner, providing substantial support—particularly to the elite Danab special forces.
Regional diplomats view this development as a signal that Washington may be reassessing its military and humanitarian commitments in the Horn of Africa, placing greater emphasis on outcomes aligned with direct U.S. national interests.
