A US Air Force colonel with roots on the continent is expected to be appointed President Donald Trump’s senior Africa director, two people familiar with the matter told Semafor.
Col. Jean-Philippe Peltier, a career intelligence officer, was born in Chad and raised across Francophone Africa, wrote a PhD on sub-Saharan African politics, and served as director of the sub-Saharan African Orientation Course at the US Air Force Special Operations School. He would lead the White House’s Africa team at the National Security Council, which already includes [two Africa directors](https://www.semafor.com/article/03/05/2025/white-house-builds-africa-team) who have military experience.
The news comes as reports suggest that Trump is [considering folding](https://www.semafor.com/article/03/03/2025/dismantling-us-africa-command-could-create-a-damaging-power-vacuum) US Africa Command into its European counterpart.