The Donald Trump administration may shut down nearly 30 United States embassies and consulates around the world, including several in Africa, as part of a sweeping plan to reduce the country’s diplomatic presence abroad.
This is according to an internal document from the US State Department, obtained by CNN.
Among the proposed closures are American embassies in Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
A US consulate in South Africa may also be shut down.
“The document recommends closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates. Many of the posts are in Europe and Africa, though they also include locations in Asia and the Caribbean. These include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
“The list also includes five consulates in France, two in Germany, two in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one in the United Kingdom, one in South Africa, and one in South Korea,” the report stated.
The proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump-led government—reportedly influenced by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency—to drastically reduce the size and spending of federal agencies, including the State Department.
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The internal document also suggests reducing the US presence in countries such as Somalia and Iraq, which have been central to America’s counterterrorism efforts.
There has been no official confirmation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has approved the proposal, and a spokesperson for the department declined to comment on the leaked document.
In Africa, where American diplomatic missions often support development initiatives, humanitarian programs, security partnerships, and visa services, these closures could have wide-reaching implications.
Countries like South Sudan and the Central African Republic have been significant to US engagement on peacekeeping and stability, and any drawdown of presence there could complicate ongoing international efforts.
The administration has only nominated new ambassadors for two of the embassies marked for closure—Malta and Luxembourg—further fueling speculation that the plan is more about reducing cost than strategic diplomacy.
Responding to queries about the leaked document, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce declined to confirm the plans, urging reporters to await official communication from the White House and President.
“I would suggest that you check with the White House and the President of the US as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they submit to Congress,” Bruce said.
“The kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong, based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.”
While consulates and embassies may not always house large teams, they play critical roles in processing visas, supporting American citizens, and gathering vital political and security intelligence.
Officials within the department have previously warned that reducing these global outposts—especially in geopolitically sensitive regions like Africa—could weaken US influence at a time when countries like China are expanding their own diplomatic networks.
As part of its broader restructuring, the State Department is also exploring more flexible and minimal staffing models—such as “FLEX-style light footprint posts” and leadership roles covering multiple missions—to further cut costs.