Rwanda’s foreign minister on Tuesday bid farewell to U.S. Ambassador Eric William Kneedler, who is leaving the country as part of a broader recall of American diplomatic representatives ordered by President Donald Trump.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe met with Kneedler as the envoy concluded his posting, which began Oct. 18, 2023, when he presented his credentials to President Paul Kagame. Kneedler was nominated by former President Joe Biden in August 2022 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in July 2023.
During his tenure, Kneedler worked to strengthen bilateral relations between Rwanda and the United States, with a focus on development cooperation in agriculture, education and trade. He also promoted political and economic dialogue aimed at advancing shared priorities and improving opportunities for citizens in both countries, Rwandan officials said.
Kneedler’s departure follows a decision announced in late December 2025 by President Trump to suspend U.S. diplomatic representatives in about 30 countries, including Rwanda. Most of those affected had been appointed under the previous administration and were given until January to wind down their assignments.
The move drew widespread attention in the United States, with media reports describing it as an unprecedented step not seen in more than a century within the U.S. foreign service.
U.S. media outlets, including Politico, reported that many of the recalled envoys and embassy staff were serving in African countries such as Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Gabon, Mauritius, Egypt, Nigeria, Niger, Senegal, Somalia and Uganda.
