US Names Justin Davis Acting Envoy in Somalia, Signalling Possible Transition Under Ambassador Riley

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The U.S. Embassy in Somalia says Justin Davis has assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires, in Mogadishu, a designation that typically places a senior diplomat in charge of day-to-day mission leadership when an ambassador is not in place or is temporarily away.

In a statement posted on X, the embassy said Davis will ensure continuity of U.S. diplomatic engagement and advance U.S. interests in Somalia “in line with the Trump Administration’s America First priorities.”

Davis is the embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, a role that commonly steps into the acting head-of-mission position during leadership transitions.

The appointment has prompted fresh attention on the status of the current U.S. ambassador, Richard Riley, who began his posting in May 2024. The embassy did not say whether Riley has departed, is temporarily out of the country, or is being reassigned.

The announcement comes as Somali communities in the United States face uncertainty after the Trump administration moved to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals—protections that allow eligible recipients to live and work in the U.S. while shielding them from deportation. Reports have cited estimates of roughly 700 Somali TPS holders, though other official data cited in media accounts suggest higher figures, indicating uncertainty over the exact number affected.