The Trump Administration has initiated a sweeping recall of nearly 30 ambassadors worldwide, with Africa bearing the brunt of this move. Effective January 2026, the administration is terminating the tenures of ambassadors in 13 African nations, including Nigeria, Somalia, and Uganda. According to the US State Department, this move is part of Trump’s “America First” agenda, aimed at replacing Biden-era appointees with loyalists dedicated to his hardline policies on trade and immigration. The timing of this mass recall of diplomats —which brings total top-level US vacancies in Africa to nearly 30—highlights a complex dual strategy. While Trump has slapped 30% tariffs on South Africa and boycotted the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, he has simultaneously positioned himself as a regional peacemaker. Earlier this month, he brokered the “Washington Accords” between the DR Congo and Rwanda, a deal critics argue is primarily designed to secure US access to critical minerals in the region.