Trump Targets South Africa and Lesotho as U.S. Plans Major Diplomatic Retreat from Africa

US President Donald Trump has revived a controversial plan to shut down dozens of American diplomatic missions in Africa, with the consulate in Durban, South Africa, and the US embassy in Lesotho among those targeted.

The move signals renewed friction between Washington and Pretoria, with relations having remained strained since Trump expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the US earlier this year over his criticism of Trump’s foreign policy.

Tensions escalated after South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) condemned the US stance on Israel and rejected pressure to alter its neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine war.

In Lesotho, the move to shutter the US embassy is widely seen as a snub to the tiny mountain kingdom, following Trump’s earlier remarks during his first term describing it as “a small Africa country no one knows about.”

While his comments drew sharp backlash from across the continent, US diplomatic engagement in Lesotho have remained minimal.

The expected closures are part of a broader proposal under Trump’s campaign platform to reduce overseas spending by slashing the State Department’s budget and consolidating US diplomatic outposts.

Officials familiar with the plan say the cuts could affect up to 60 pert of American embassies and consulates in Africa, with at least 27 missions across the continent and Europe under review for closure or downsizing.

Trump has defended the plan as a necessary cost-saving measure, saying American taxpayers should not continue to “foot the bill for bloated diplomatic networks” in countries with “little strategic value.”

The plan includes transitioning some embassies to virtual or remote consular services and reassigning diplomatic staff to regional hubs.

Analysts warn that the cuts could damage US relations in Africa and create room for rivals such as China and Russia to expand their influence.

The United States has traditionally maintained one of the largest diplomatic networks on the continent, supporting programmes in health, education, trade, and military cooperation.

While the final list of closures has not been made public, internal discussions suggest that embassies in Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, and Eswatini could also be affected.

The move, if implemented, would mark one of the largest diplomatic withdrawals from Africa by a US administration in recent history.

ligadwah@businessdayafricanews.org