US President Donald Trump has ordered the recall of Richard Mills, United States ambassador to Nigeria, in what is being described as a major reshuffle of US diplomatic postings worldwide.
The move is part of a broader recall affecting over two dozen countries, with Africa reportedly the most impacted continent.
Nigeria is one of 15 African nations to have ambassadors recalled, alongside Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
In addition, several Asia-Pacific countries, including Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as European countries like Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia, have seen changes. Guatemala and Suriname were affected in the Western Hemisphere.
According to State Department officials speaking to Guardian UK, the affected ambassadors were notified last week that their tenures would end in January.
“These are career diplomats and political appointees who began their posts under the Biden administration and had survived an earlier purge. They are being given the opportunity to return to Washington for reassignment,” a source said.
Richard Mills was confirmed as US ambassador to Nigeria in May 2025. His recall comes amid tense US-Nigeria relations over visa issues and security concerns.
Mills had recently met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss bilateral cooperation and initiatives aimed at strengthening the US-Nigeria partnership.
Congressman Riley Moore had said that both countries were close to a “strategic security framework” to tackle terrorism in West Africa.
State Department officials emphasised that the recalled ambassadors are not being dismissed from the foreign service.
“They may return to Washington for other assignments if they wish,” the officials said.
The recall underscores a broader diplomatic reshuffle under President Trump, signalling potential changes in US foreign policy priorities and engagement strategies in Africa and other regions.