Africa-Press. The U.S. Senate has confirmed former U.S. Navy officer Frank Garcia as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, a position known within the White House as the “Master of Africa,” following a vacancy of over fifteen months since President Donald Trump’s return to power in January 2025.
Garcia’s appointment marks a departure from the traditional approach Washington has taken for years, which involved assigning this role to professional diplomats with extensive experience in African affairs. The new appointee comes from a military and intelligence background with limited experience on the continent.
Previously, Frank Garcia held positions in the U.S. Navy and the House Intelligence Committee, but he is not widely known among specialists in African affairs. This move reflects the Trump administration’s shift towards a more security-focused and pragmatic approach to dealing with Africa.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate, Garcia emphasized principles aligned with the “America First” slogan, asserting the need to reduce spending on humanitarian aid and prioritize U.S. commercial interests within Africa.
His appointment comes at a time when the Office of African Affairs at the State Department is experiencing administrative turmoil, having seen three acting officials lead it since January 2025, the last being Nick Chekler, a former analyst at the CIA, who left his position after only a few months.
Garcia also inherits a U.S. diplomatic presence in Africa that has significantly declined, with about 30 out of 51 U.S. embassies on the continent lacking accredited ambassadors, following widespread dismissals by the Trump administration without announcing replacements to date.
Garcia is also expected to work alongside Masad Boulos, a businessman and special advisor to President Trump on African affairs, who has emerged recently as an influential player outside traditional diplomatic frameworks within the U.S. administration.
