By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Donald Trump administration is withdrawing dozens of ambassadors appointed under his predecessor, Joe Biden as part of a broad reshuffle to align the diplomatic corps with its foreign policy priorities, American Foreign Service Association says.
Reports from the Association which represents State Department employees said ambassadors from 30 countries will be affected, particularly in Africa.
The heads of mission, mostly career diplomats, have been notified they must leave their posts by mid-January, the report added.
Analysts say while it is customary for an administration to reshuffle ambassadors appointed to strategic posts or capitals and to appoint donors or supporters, such a sweeping change targeting career diplomats is unusual before their term ends or their successor is appointed.
The American Foreign Service Association said it had received “credible reports from our members in diplomatic posts around the world that multiple career ambassadors, appointed during the Biden administration, have been directed by phone call to vacate their posts by January 15 or 16.”
“No explanation was given for these recalls,” the association added in its post on Facebook.
“Removing senior diplomats without cause undermines US credibility abroad and sends a chilling signal to the professional Foreign Service: experience and an oath to the Constitution take a backseat to political loyalty,” it said.
A senior State Department official said Monday that changing ambassadors was “a standard process in any administration.”
“An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The official did not confirm the details of the dismissals, or which countries were affected.
In his second term, President Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio have overhauled American diplomacy to focus priorities such as combating illegal immigration, cutting foreign aid and diversity policies.
