The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing plans to close nearly 30 American embassies and consulates globally—including several across Africa—as part of a broad initiative to scale back the country’s diplomatic footprint.
According to a CNN report published Wednesday, which cites an internal U.S. State Department document, embassies in countries such as the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan are among those proposed for closure. Additionally, a U.S. consulate in South Africa is also being considered for shutdown.
The document reportedly outlines the potential closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates. While many of the affected missions are located in Europe and Africa, some are also in Asia and the Caribbean. Specific locations mentioned include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, and the aforementioned African countries, as well as consulates in France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and South Korea.
This proposal is said to be part of a larger initiative—allegedly backed by the Elon Musk-supported Department of Government Efficiency—to significantly cut costs and reduce staffing across U.S. federal agencies, including the State Department.
The document also hints at plans to scale down American presence in conflict-prone regions like Somalia and Iraq, both critical to U.S. counterterrorism strategies.As of now, there has been no official confirmation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the recommendation. A spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the leaked document.
Source : https://punchng.com/
