One hundred days into his second term, Donald Trump has reignited his campaign for aggressive budget cuts — and this time, the axe could fall hard on U.S. diplomacy in Africa. According to leaked documents seen by The New York Times, the White House is planning a “complete structural reorganisation” of the State Department by October 2025, which may include the closure of around 30 embassies and consulates worldwide — the majority of them on the African continent.
The rationale? The administration cites “waste, fraud, and abuse” within the State Department and argues that the institution has grown bloated and ineffective. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio initially dismissed reports of cuts as “fake news” but later defended the cost-cutting proposals, lamenting that “everything takes too long, costs too much, and too often fails the American people.”
Embassies and Consulates under threat
Africa appears to be disproportionately affected by the planned diplomatic retrenchment. According to projections, U.S. embassies in countries such as Lesotho, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, The Gambia and South Sudan are on the chopping block. U.S. consulates in Douala (Cameroon) and Durban (South Africa) may also be closed.
This signals a continuation of the disengagement seen during Trump’s first term, during which he neither visited the continent nor prioritised relations with African nations. Analysts point out that only three U.S. ambassadors have been appointed across the continent since Trump’s return to office — in South Africa, Morocco, and Tunisia — while key strategic nations such as Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Ethiopia remain without full ambassadorial representation or are led by interim diplomats.
“This isn’t surprising,” says Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs. “Trump ignored Africa during his first term and seems poised to do the same again.”
Tensions with South Africa
South Africa, while unlikely to lose its embassy due to its international standing, is nonetheless at the centre of heightened diplomatic tensions. Washington has accused the South African government of discriminating against its white minority and taken issue with Pretoria’s legal stance against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
In a move that deepened the rift, Trump expelled South African ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March. He has since nominated Leo Brent Bozell III as ambassador to Pretoria, though the appointment is still pending Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, U.S. financial aid to South Africa has been suspended — a decision that has hit key humanitarian initiatives, including HIV/AIDS prevention programmes.
A blow to American soft power
Beyond embassy closures, broader cuts to the U.S. development and cultural apparatus are already under way. Trump’s administration has drastically reduced funding for USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Iconic soft-power initiatives like the Fulbright scholarships face potential elimination, while Voice of America, the U.S. government’s international broadcaster, is reportedly being dismantled.
Tom Yazdgerdi, head of the American Foreign Service Association, calls the strategy “a self-inflicted wound”:
“You’re ceding ground to other global powers like Russia and China, who are more than ready to fill the vacuum.”
A strategic miscalculation?
Despite its seemingly marginal role in Trump’s foreign policy, Africa remains crucial in global geopolitics — not least because of its reserves of strategic minerals. Countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria may yet attract renewed American interest for their cobalt and rare earths, especially as tensions with China — a key supplier — continue to rise.
According to Alex Vines of Chatham House, “less America means more room for others.” The United Arab Emirates, Turkey, India, Russia, and the European Union are all poised to expand their presence and influence on the continent.
By slashing its diplomatic footprint and sidelining Africa, the U.S. risks not just its soft power, but also its long-term strategic leverage in a region where global competition is intensifying.
