The US ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Fot, left that South African country Thursday, after criticizing a judicial decision to imprison a gay couple, prompting the Zambian government to demand his departure.
In a brief statement issued just before his departure, Voet called on President Edgar Longo to commit to restoring Zambia's reputation as a strong democracy and to "avoid the deterioration of the human, economic and political rights of your citizens."
In November, Voote sparked Zambian government anger by criticizing the imprisonment of a gay couple, Javit Shatapa and Stephen Samba.
Same-sex sexual relations are illegal in Zambia.