The United States government has ordered its ambassadors and senior embassy officials serving in 29 countries worldwide—including Rwanda—to leave their duties no later than January 2026.

The recall affects ambassadors who were appointed by former President Joe Biden, who has since been succeeded by Donald Trump, as the end of 2025 approaches.

In Africa, countries from which U.S. ambassadors have been recalled include Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Uganda, Egypt, and Algeria.

In Asia, the affected countries are Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

In Europe, U.S. ambassadors have been withdrawn from Armenia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia, while in the Americas, the countries affected are Guatemala and Suriname.

The union representing U.S. ambassadors worldwide has warned that public loyalty among Americans to their government may decline, citing job losses and unprecedented diplomatic changes in the country’s history.

Meanwhile, the administration of President Donald Trump continues to implement sweeping reforms aimed at reducing government expenditure abroad, prioritizing domestic interests.

These measures include the suspension of several programs run by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) earlier this year, as well as cuts to military assistance previously provided to European countries.

All these policy shifts are being implemented under the slogan “Americans First,” emphasizing the administration’s commitment to prioritizing the interests of U.S. citizens above all else.