US plans to reduce diplomatic presence could be part of wider change in US-Africa ties

The United States could soon radically change its diplomatic presence in Africa, according to a leaked memo from the US Inform Department.

As part of astronomical overhaul plans for the Inform Department budget, Washington could shut down as many as six of its embassies and two consulates in Africa.

The diplomatic representations marked for doable closure are the embassies of the Central African Republic, Eritrea, the Gambia, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. The consulates that could be closed are in Douala, Cameroon, and Durban, South Africa.

But according to some analysts, the information of the doable diplomatic cuts can also unprejudiced be part of a wider are attempting by Washington to change the relationship between the US and the African continent.

According to experiences by Politico, the unusual relationship sought by Washington would be in accordance with more business ties but scale support on international abet and its diplomatic – and additionally defense pressure – presence on the bottom.

Whereas the plans need to be permitted by the US Congress, they’ve already given upward push to fears that China could rob advantage of a reduced American presence on the continent and further magnify its be pleased influence.