US ambassador recalled after dispute with Zambian government over gay rights and corruption

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/25/politics/daniel-foote-zambia-ambassador/index.html

Washington(CNN)In an extraordinary move, the State Department is pulling the US ambassador to Zambia after the president there objected to his harsh criticism of the government’s record on corruption and gay rights.

Recalling an ambassador is rare, especially when an ambassador is arguing for American values abroad.

US Ambassador Daniel Foote, in a scathing statement on December 2, slammed those in the conservative Christian country who compare homosexuality to bestiality and said he was shocked by the “venom and hate” he received for criticizing the sentencing of two men to 15 years in jail for being in a gay relationship. Same-sex activity is illegal in Zambia.