Six African embassies facing closure by the Trump administration

The Trump administration is considering shutting down at least 30 embassies and consulates worldwide.

An internal State Department document notes a sweeping plan to shut 10 embassies and 17 consulates, with Africa and Europe bearing the brunt.

The closures are part of a broader campaign spearheaded by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to slash the State Department’s budget nearly in half—from Sh7.07 trillion to Sh3.60 trillion next year.

Among the countries hardest hit is South Sudan, which has recently emerged from civil war and remains dependent on international partnerships.

The US embassy in Juba, listed for closure, is one of six African embassies set to be shut, along with those in the Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Lesotho, the Central African Republic, and The Gambia.

Five US consulates in France—located in popular tourist and cultural hubs like Bordeaux, Marseille, and Lyon—are also set to close. Others in Germany, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and the UK could follow.

The planned restructuring includes consolidating larger missions in Japan and Canada, replacing full embassies with "FLEX-style" light posts, and combining leadership roles across missions.

Programs like Fulbright, which support cultural exchange and education, are also set to be eliminated entirely.

So far, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not publicly endorsed the closures, and State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to comment directly on the leaked document. “I would suggest that you check with the White House,” she said.

Embassies and consulates are eyes and ears for the US in regions critical to counterterrorism, economic diplomacy, and humanitarian aid.

However, critics worry that such cost-cutting may come at the expense of security and strategy.

“If we shut the doors to scholars and diplomats, we are shutting the door to the next generation of global cooperation,” said a Fulbright alumni advisor. “It’s heartbreaking.”

They warn that the human and geopolitical costs may be too steep since they will be closing off relationships, intelligence channels, and trust.