The United States is moving ahead with plans to scale back its diplomatic presence across Africa, a move that is already generating debate among diplomats, policymakers, and immigration advocates. Reports indicate that the U.S. State Department plans to reduce the number of African embassies and consulates handling visa applications from nearly 50 locations to just 20 regional processing hubs. The change is expected to be implemented in 2026 as part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration policies and streamline government operations.
If the plan moves forward, many African countries will no longer offer routine U.S. visa services within their borders. Instead, applicants may have to travel to regional centers in cities such as Nairobi, Accra, Lagos, or Johannesburg for interviews and visa processing. U.S. officials say the consolidation will make operations more efficient, enhance security screening, and lower administrative costs.
Critics argue that the change could make the visa process more difficult and expensive for students, tourists, business travelers, and immigrants. They also warn that a smaller U.S. diplomatic presence could diminish Washington’s influence in Africa at a time when countries such as China and Russia are expanding their political and economic ties across the continent.
The proposal highlights a broader shift in U.S. foreign and immigration policy and could have lasting implications for relations between the United States and Africa.Â
The expected consulates and embassies remaining open are in the following cities:Â Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Cape Town, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti, Djibouti; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kampala, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda; Kinshasa, Congo; Lagos, Nigeria; Lome, Togo; Luanda, Angola; Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; Port Louis, Mauritius; Praia, Cape Verde; and Yaounde, Cameroon.
