US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has debunked a report claiming that the Donald Trump administration is planning to close American embassies in Africa.
The New York Times had claimed that Trump might sign an executive order next week to cut down the operations of the State Department and US embassies in Africa.
If the purported document is eventually signed, it would lead to layoffs of both diplomats and civil servants.
But Rubio wrote on X on Sunday: “This is fake news. The New York Times falls victim to another hoax.”
The NYT article claimed that there could be a possible closure of the Bureau of African Affairs, which is responsible for US policy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The proposal is also said to include closing all “non-essential” embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa by October 1.
Diplomats would then be sent to Africa on “targeted, mission-driven deployments.”
