The United States has formally withdrawn from 66 global organisations following a directive issued by President Donald Trump.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the decision on Wednesday in an official statement.
According to Rubio, the move follows Executive Order 14199 and an administration-wide review of all international bodies that receive US funding or participation.
Why the US pulled out
Trump said many of the organisations no longer serve American interests.
He argued that several institutions have become redundant, poorly managed, or politically biased. Others, he added, now promote ideological agendas that weaken national sovereignty.
As a result, the administration concluded that continued involvement would waste public funds with little practical benefit.
Meanwhile, the decision signals one of the largest single withdrawals from multilateral institutions in modern US history.
Why Africa is paying close attention
Importantly, the list includes agencies that directly affect Africa’s development, peacebuilding, climate policy, and trade systems.
For example, the US has exited the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
In addition, America has withdrawn from climate-focused institutions that shape environmental financing and sustainability programmes across the continent.
As a result, analysts expect funding gaps and policy shifts in several African-led initiatives.
Full List of Organisations the US Has Withdrawn From
UN-Affiliated Bodies
• Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Economic Commission for Africa
• Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
• Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
• International Law Commission
• International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
• International Trade Centre
• Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
• Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict
• Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
• Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
• Peacebuilding Commission
• Peacebuilding Fund
• Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
• UN Alliance of Civilizations
• UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)
• UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• UN Democracy Fund
• UN Energy
• UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
• UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
• UN Oceans
• UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
• UN Register of Conventional Arms
• UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
• UN System Staff College
• UN Water
• UN University
Non-UN Organisations
• 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
• Colombo Plan Council
• Commission for Environmental Cooperation
• Education Cannot Wait
• European Centre of Excellence for Countering
• Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
• Freedom Online Coalition
• Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
• Global Counterterrorism Forum
• Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
• Global Forum on Migration and Development
• Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
• Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
• International Cotton Advisory Committee
• International Development Law Organization
• International Energy Forum
• International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
• International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
• International Lead and Zinc Study Group
• International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
• International Solar Alliance
• International Tropical Timber Organization
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Pan American Institute of Geography and History
• Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
• Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
• Regional Cooperation Council
• Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21)
• Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
• Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
• Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
What happens next?
Experts say the withdrawals could reshape global diplomacy, climate negotiations, peacekeeping coordination, and development financing.
For Africa, the impact may include slower project funding, policy realignments, and reduced technical support in key sectors.
However, regional institutions and private partners may step in to fill some of the gaps.
Still, the decision marks a turning point in how the United States engages with the world.
