MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The United States ambassador to Somalia, Richard Riley, is among about 30 senior diplomats and embassy officials recalled by President Donald Trump as part of a global reshuffle of US diplomatic missions.
The move comes at a time of heightened political tension in the Horn of Africa country, where disputes over electoral process have raised alarming concerns.
According to State Department officials, chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were informed last week that their tenures would end in January, in line with President Trump’s “America First” priorities.
All of the affected diplomats were appointed during the Biden administration and had initially remained in post after Mr Trump began his second term. They survived an early round of removals that largely targeted political appointees, but that position changed this week when notices of imminent departure were issued from Washington.
Africa has been the continent most heavily affected by the shake-up. Ambassadors from 13 African countries are being recalled: Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
The US State Department declined to confirm the number of diplomats involved or identify those affected. However, it defended the changes, describing them as “a standard process in any administration”.
In a statement, the department said an ambassador is “the personal representative of the president” and that it is the president’s prerogative to ensure that US envoys abroad are aligned with his policy agenda.
The recalls are expected to prompt interim leadership arrangements at several US embassies while permanent replacements are considered.
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