The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a plan to shut down several United States embassies and consulates around the globe, with a significant number of the closures expected to occur in Africa.
The proposal, which has not yet been finalized, was brought to light through a leaked internal document from the U.S. State Department, obtained by CNN.
According to the document, diplomatic posts in Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan are among those under review for closure. A U.S. consulate in South Africa is also on the list of potentially affected missions.
The broader proposal outlines the potential closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates across multiple regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
The effort appears to be part of a larger initiative by the Trump administration to downsize the federal government, driven in part by recommendations from the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency — a department reportedly backed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
While the document outlines criteria such as consular workload, security, cost-effectiveness, and regional feedback as key considerations in the review, critics are raising alarms about the potential consequences of a diminished U.S. diplomatic presence, particularly in Africa.
“The embassies under review are not just administrative outposts — they are essential to maintaining U.S. influence, supporting peacekeeping operations, and delivering humanitarian assistance,” said a former senior diplomat who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the deliberations.
South Sudan and the Central African Republic are two nations where U.S. embassies play a pivotal role in peace and stability missions. Experts warn that closing these missions could significantly disrupt ongoing development projects and strain security partnerships in volatile regions.
Under the proposed plan, diplomatic responsibilities for affected nations would be shifted to American embassies in neighboring countries. However, it remains unclear whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed off on the measure, or if it will ultimately move forward.
The timing of the leak — and the fact that only two of the embassies on the list, Malta and Luxembourg, currently have newly nominated ambassadors — has fueled speculation about whether the move is financially motivated rather than rooted in strategic diplomatic planning.
When reached for comment, a State Department spokesperson declined to confirm or deny the report, stating only that “no final decisions have been made” and advising the public to await official announcements from the White House. If implemented, the closures would mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in regions where American engagement has long played a critical stabilizing role.
