FILE PHOTO: Zambia's President Edgar Chagwa Lungu addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 25, 2019. |
LUSAKA/WASHINGTON
The United States has withdrawn its ambassador to Zambia following a row
with authorities in the southern African nation after he criticized the jailing
of a gay couple, embassy sources said on Monday.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State
Department said Washington is “dismayed” by the Zambian government’s statement
that
Ambassador Daniel Foote’s position
“is no longer tenable.”
“Despite this action, the United
States remains committed to our partnership with the Zambian people,” the
spokesperson said. “We seek an open and frank relationship of mutual respect,
commensurate with the generous aid provided to the Zambian people by the United
States.”
Zambia’s high court last month jailed
the male gay couple for 15 years for engaging in sexual relations “against the
order of nature”, a decision the U.S. ambassador said was horrifying.
President Edgar Lungu said on Dec. 15
that Zambia, a major beneficiary of U.S. aid, had sent a protest letter to
Washington over the remarks by Foote and was awaiting a response.
A U.S. embassy source who is not
allowed to issue statements told Reuters that Washington had decided to recall
its ambassador because it was difficult for him to work in Zambia.
“Since Lungu says he does not want to
work with Foote, there was no point of him remaining. Also don’t forget that
there are security issues so Washington want their man back,” the source said.
“The U.S. cannot be paying a salary
to someone who cannot work because the hosts don’t want him,” a second U.S.
embassy source said.
Zambia’s foreign affairs ministry did
not respond to a request for comment.
Zambia receives hundreds of millions
of dollars every year in financial support from the United States, some of
which goes toward fighting HIV/AIDS.
African countries have some of the
world’s most prohibitive laws governing homosexuality. Same-sex relationships
are considered taboo and gay sex is a crime across most of the continent, with
punishments ranging from imprisonment to death.
“The United States firmly opposes
abuses against LGBTI persons. Governments have an obligation to ensure that all
people can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to
which they are entitled,” the State Department spokesperson said. - Reuters
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