The Trump administration is dramatically reducing the US diplomatic footprint in Africa, cutting the number of embassies and consulates that can process visas from nearly 50 to just 20. The change is expected to take effect in June 2026, marking one of the most significant reductions in US consular operations on the continent in decades.
Under a directive approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department will limit visa processing to 20 designated hubs: Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Accra (Ghana), Dakar (Senegal), Lagos (Nigeria), Lomé (Togo), Monrovia (Liberia), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Djibouti, Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa), Johannesburg (South Africa), Kinshasa (Congo), Luanda (Angola), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Port Louis (Mauritius), and Praia (Cape Verde).
This cut is part of President Trump’s “America First” Africa strategy prioritizing trade over aid. The administration’s Commercial Diplomacy strategy now evaluates ambassadors on how effectively they advocate for American businesses.
Critics argue this approach views Africa as “peripheral” to US interests, a strategic miscalculation that will set back US-Africa relations. The State Department says it “is constantly evaluating its overseas operations” but hasn’t addressed how millions of Africans seeking US visas for education, work, and family reunification will be affected.
For now, one thing is clear: the US diplomatic presence in Africa is shrinking, and African dreamers will have to travel farther to chase their American visas.
Africa Presents is a Pan-African digital magazine and monthly publication covering politics, business, economy, culture, tech, and the stories shaping Africa and its diaspora. Visit africapresents.com and follow @AfricaPresents for daily coverage and monthly themed magazine editions.
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