US President Donald Trump is reportedly moving to shut down around 30 US embassies and consulates worldwide, including several in Africa, according to a CNN report citing a leaked State Department document.
The proposed closures are part of a broad plan to scale back America’s diplomatic footprint. Affected missions include embassies in the Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Lesotho, and South Sudan, along with a consulate in South Africa.
The document recommends shutting down 10 embassies and 17 consulates, mostly located in Europe and Africa, but also in parts of Asia and the Caribbean. These include embassies in Malta and Luxembourg, and consulates in France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UK, and South Korea.
The plan also proposes reducing the US presence in countries like Somalia and Iraq, key areas in Washington’s counterterrorism strategy.
There’s no confirmation yet that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the move, and the State Department has declined to comment on the leaked report. Notably, Nigeria is not among the countries listed for closure.
