The U.S. government under Donald Trump is planning to shut down nearly 30 embassies and consulates around the world, and many of them are in Africa. A report from CNN, based on a leaked document, says the U.S. embassies in countries like Congo, South Sudan, Lesotho, and the Central African Republic could be closed soon. Even a U.S. consulate in South Africa may be affected.
The secret document suggests closing 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Places like Malta, Luxembourg, and even parts of France, Germany, and the U.K. are also on the list. The goal is said to be cutting costs and reducing the number of U.S. government workers overseas.
This move is part of a bigger plan by the Trump team to make government smaller and cheaper, with support from a department reportedly backed by Elon Musk. The same plan talks about reducing U.S. presence in Somalia and Iraq, but it’s not yet clear if the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, agrees with the idea. The State Department has not made any official comment yet.