Planned Closure of Five African Embassies Raises Questions Over Colombia’s Diplomacy

Colombia’s president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, has announced plans to close the country’s embassies in Algeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa, reducing Colombia’s diplomatic network in Africa from eight missions to four.

Under the proposal, Colombia would retain embassies in Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya, while opening a new diplomatic mission in Nigeria. However, the Nigerian embassy has not yet been assigned an opening date or a published budget, while the closures are expected to be implemented by decree beginning August 7.

Development Observatory Questions the Strategy

Alberto Castillo Aroca, director of the Observatorio Latinoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible (OLDS), argued that describing the measure as a diplomatic reorganization understates its impact.

According to Castillo Aroca, replacing several established embassies with a future mission in Nigeria does not offset the loss of diplomatic representation across the continent. He described the decision as a reduction in Colombia’s presence rather than a redistribution of resources.

Concerns Over Ethiopia’s Strategic Importance

Much of the criticism centers on the planned closure of Colombia’s embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital and the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The city hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of diplomatic missions and serves as a key venue for political coordination among African nations.

Castillo Aroca argued that maintaining a diplomatic presence in Addis Ababa provides access to multilateral discussions that can influence voting blocs in international organizations, including the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

Drawing on his experience managing humanitarian information systems for the United Nations in Ethiopia and Egypt, he said the two capitals serve different diplomatic purposes and should not be viewed as interchangeable. While Cairo offers access to the Arab world and the Mediterranean region, Addis Ababa functions as Africa’s principal political hub, he said.

Economic and Trade Considerations

The OLDS also highlighted Ethiopia’s economic significance. With a population exceeding 130 million, the country is Africa’s second-most populous nation and has recorded strong economic growth over the past decade. Ethiopia joined the BRICS group in 2024 and hosts one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs.

Castillo Aroca also noted Ethiopia’s importance as the original home of Arabica coffee, arguing that the country’s genetic coffee resources and its role in international agricultural discussions are relevant for Colombia, one of the world’s leading Arabica coffee producers.

Calls for Greater Transparency

The observatory questioned the criteria used to determine which embassies would be closed, noting that the government has publicly explained diplomatic decisions affecting other regions but has not provided a detailed justification for reducing its presence in Africa.

According to OLDS, Colombia’s entire foreign service accounts for approximately 0.35% of the national budget, leading the organization to call for a public cost-benefit analysis of each diplomatic mission before the closures take effect.

Lessons From Previous Diplomatic Cuts

Castillo Aroca pointed to a similar cost-cutting effort launched in 2002 during the administration of former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, when Colombia closed 12 embassies and nine consulates. Many of those missions were later reopened by subsequent governments.

OLDS is urging Colombia’s congressional foreign affairs committees to require the Foreign Ministry to publish the analysis supporting the closures, preserve a permanent diplomatic presence at the African Union, and redirect any financial savings toward commercial diplomacy rather than eliminating those resources altogether.