United States President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the recall of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, alongside several other career diplomats serving as ambassadors across different regions of the world.

According to a report by Politico, the decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to realign US diplomatic representation abroad with the President’s “America First” policy agenda.

A State Department official confirmed to the news platform that the ambassadors affected by the shake-up were initially appointed during the administration of former President Joe Biden but are expected to conclude their ambassadorial tenures in January.

The official explained that while the diplomats may return to Washington and continue their careers in other assignments within the State Department if they choose, their roles as chiefs of mission in their respective countries will come to an end.

Africa has emerged as the region most impacted by the recalls, with ambassadors from 13 African countries affected. The countries include Nigeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Uganda.

The shake-up also extends beyond Africa, affecting US ambassadors in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Western Hemisphere.

In a statement, the US State Department described the development as a routine administrative process, noting that ambassadors serve at the discretion of the President and are expected to promote the policy objectives of the sitting administration.

“An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” the statement read.

State Department officials emphasised that the recalled ambassadors are not being dismissed from the US Foreign Service and remain eligible to continue serving in other capacities within the department.

Despite these assurances, the sudden recalls are expected to trigger operational adjustments at US embassies and could disrupt ongoing diplomatic initiatives in the affected countries.

The recall of the US ambassador to Nigeria comes at a time of heightened focus on US-Africa relations and has raised concerns among some US lawmakers and the American Foreign Service Association, the body that represents American diplomats.

For Nigeria, the departure of the US envoy represents a significant shift in diplomatic engagement, particularly as the country remains a key partner of the United States in regional security efforts, economic cooperation, and development programmes.