The U.S. State Department’s top official for Africa, Troy Fitrell, is set to retire in mid-July, with Jonathan Pratt, the Africa bureau’s second-in-command, stepping into the role.
This leadership change occurs as President Donald Trump’s administration aims to shift its strategy in the region towards trade, rather than primarily assistance.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that Ambassador Troy Fitrell, the Bureau of African Affairs Senior Bureau Official, is retiring as planned after a distinguished career.
Jonathan Pratt, currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, will assume the senior bureau official role after Fitrell’s departure.
Fitrell, who previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Guinea, has been leading the Bureau of African Affairs in an acting capacity, as an officially nominated assistant secretary of State has not yet been named under the Trump administration.
Pratt, who was previously the U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti from 2021-2023, will bring extensive experience in the region to his new position, having held assignments in the Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Angola, among other postings.
Sources with direct knowledge informed Reuters that Fitrell will leave his post on July 15, a plan he reportedly shared via email.
Fitrell did not respond to a request for comment.
Last month, Fitrell told reporters that he had instructed U.S. ambassadors across the continent to identify commercial opportunities for U.S. companies, reflecting the Trump administration’s heightened focus on trade with the region.
The United States is also actively seeking to counter both Chinese and Russian influence on the African continent, particularly concerning minerals and trade.
