A spokesperson of the American State Department says Washington is “dismayed” by the fact that the Zambian government considers the ambassador’s position to be “no longer tenable”. The Zambian president Edgar Lungu expressed on Zambian television that if it was up to him, the ambassador could pack his bags.

An anonymous source inside of the US embassy told Reuters that the ambassador allegedly was recalled because it was too difficult for him to work in the country. “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. Another source added: “The U.S. cannot be paying a salary to someone who cannot work because the hosts don’t want him.”

Next to his critics on the conviction of the gay couple,  the US ambassador also accused the Zambian government officials of stealing aid money. “They can steal millions of public dollars without prosecution.”

Zambia receives an amount of 450 million euros in aid from the US.