Monrovia, July 11 -- Mark Toner, the United States Ambassador to Liberia, is retiring from his role less a year into what was to be a two-year post. His announcement to embassy staff on Tuesday, came as a surprise, particularly as it came just a day before Liberia President Joseph Boakai secured a coveted meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump along with the presidents four other African countries.

In an exclusive interview with FrontPage Africa/New Narratives on Thursday, Toner insisted his decision was driven by a desire to spend more time with his family after 33 years in the foreign service and not because of any differences with the Trump administration. A Wall Street Journal article on Thursday claimed that Boakai and the other ...