Ambassador of the United States to Algeria Elizabeth Aubin has been removed by the Trump administration, leaving the Algerian regime in utter dismay though the move is part of a broad shake-up of the U.S. State Department and diplomatic corps. Ambassador Elizabeth was appointed by Democrat President Joe Biden in 2021. She was supposed to be replaced in 2024 by Joshua Harris, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for North African Affairs and a key figure in U.S. diplomacy with extensive knowledge of the Sahara issue. In August 2025, Mr. Joshua was appointed Chargé d’Affaires in Baghdad, while Elizabeth Aubin continued to serve as ambassador to Algeria until her removal. A senior State Department official said: “An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”Mrs. Elizabeth had worked hard on US-Algerian rapprochement, but her recall is seen as a failure of US engagement with Algerian military junta which has rejected the proposed U.S. 60-day peace deal to normalize relations with Rabat and refused to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2797 recognizing the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 24, 2025 19:28 UTC