Trump administration wants to close almost 30 US embassies

The Trump administration wants to shut down almost 30 US embassies and consulates, of which, more than half are in Africa, Africanews via agencies reported on April 18th.

The proposed plan is part of a wider aim to reduce the State Department’s budget by almost half and to cut foreign aid by three-quarters. In an internal State Department document, it said that the embassies in Lesotho, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Gambia, and South Sudan are among those that the administration hopes to close.

The Trump administration’s proposal has sparked concern about the potential decrease of US diplomatic presence in Africa, which critics believe could lead to less US influence on Africa.

Africanews via agencies