Trump eyes gutting US diplomacy in Africa, cutting soft power: draft plan

Source: Agence France-Presse

Trump eyes gutting US diplomacy in Africa, cutting soft power: draft plan

Issued on: 20/04/2025 - 19:17

Washington (AFP) – The United States would drastically reduce its diplomatic footprint in Africa and scrap State Department offices dealing with climate change, democracy and human rights, according to a draft White House order.

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The biggest change would be organizing US diplomatic efforts into four regions: Eurasia, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific -- with no equivalent focus on Africa.

The current Africa Bureau would be eliminated. In its place would be a "Special Envoy Office for African Affairs" who reports to the White House's internal National Security Council, rather than the State Department.

"All non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa shall be closed," the draft order says, with all remaining missions consolidated under a special envoy "using targeted, mission-driven deployments."

Emphasis in Africa would be placed on counterterrorism and "strategic extraction and trade of critical natural resources."

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Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250420-trump-eyes-gutting-us-diplomacy-in-africa-cutting-soft-power-draft-plan