Foreign affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told reporters Tuesday that Libyan ambassador Taher Elmagrahi took “drastic action” by renouncing his allegiance to Muammar Qaddafi’s government. He said Elmagrahi must “go back to his country” because Zimbabwe does not recognize the rebels as Libya’s interim government.

Elmagrahi on Wednesday took down the Libyan flag and hoisted the rebels’ flag at the embassy in Harare.

Despite past alliances, relations between Zimbabwe and Libya have chilled over the years following a disputed gasoline deal during acute fuel shortages in the southern African country.