Trump Administration Recalls U.S. Ambassador to Somalia and Other Career Diplomats

MOGADISHU — The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts worldwide in a sweeping reshuffle aimed at aligning U.S. diplomacy with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, according to two State Department officials.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters, said chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were notified last week that their tenures will end in January. All of the recalled diplomats were appointed during the Biden administration and had initially remained in place after an early shake-up in Trump’s second term that focused primarily on political appointees.

Among those affected is the U.S. ambassador to Somalia, Richard H. Riley, a career diplomat who assumed the role in May 2024. Riley has steered Washington’s engagement through a pivotal period, pressing bilateral ties on security, governance and development, while backing democratic processes and underscoring U.S. support for stability in the Horn of Africa.

His planned departure in January comes as Somalia approaches critical elections marked by an opposition boycott and rising concern that political tensions could spill into unrest. The exit of a sitting ambassador at such a juncture adds uncertainty to U.S. diplomatic engagement with Somali leaders and regional security partners.

Africa is the most affected region, with ambassadors recalled from 13 countries. The broader moves span every major region:

• Africa: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
• Asia: Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
• Europe: Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovakia.
• Middle East: Algeria and Egypt.
• South and Central Asia: Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• Western Hemisphere: Guatemala and Suriname.

The State Department declined to discuss specific numbers or individual ambassadorships but defended the actions broadly, describing them as “a standard process in any administration.” Internally, officials framed the recalls as part of an effort to reshape the diplomatic posture abroad with personnel viewed as fully aligned with Trump’s priorities.

While ambassadorial transitions are routine — particularly at the start of a new term — the scope and concentration in Africa underscore the administration’s focus on recalibrating U.S. engagement in regions where security partnerships, great-power competition and governance challenges converge. Several of the posts sit at the center of counterterrorism cooperation, maritime security, energy and critical mineral supply chains, or contentious electoral timelines.

In Somalia, Riley’s tenure has emphasized coordination with federal and regional authorities on security operations and institutional reforms, alongside sustained U.S. support for civilian protection and stabilization efforts. With the political calendar tightening and opposition leaders vowing to boycott the polls, his departure compresses the window for continuity as Washington seeks to deter escalation and encourage dialogue among Somali stakeholders.

It was not immediately clear when successors for the recalled envoys will be named. The State Department offered no details on timing beyond the January departures, and it did not release an official list of affected posts.

The recall notices come as Washington reassesses diplomatic staffing in several high-stakes theaters, signaling a sharper push to place career officials who are seen as closely aligned with the administration’s directives. For embassies facing sensitive transitions — including Mogadishu — the immediate operational priority will be maintaining steady lines of communication with host governments and partners amid the handover.

As of Tuesday, no formal replacement for Ambassador Riley had been announced.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.