By Staff Reporter
The European Union (EU) has extended its sanctions on Zimbabwe for another year, now valid until February 20, 2025.
The current EU regulations include a ban on arms and equipment that could potentially be utilized for internal repression, alongside a specific assets freeze targeting Zimbabwe Defence Industries. Notably, no individuals are listed under these measures.
The EU says it will continue to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe, with a particular attention to the human rights situation.
“The Council today renewed its restrictive measures in view of the situation in Zimbabwe for a further year, until 20 February 2025.
“The EU measures in place consist of an embargo on arms and equipment which might be used for internal repression, and a targeted assets freeze against one entity, Zimbabwe Defence Industries.
“Since February 2022 there are no listed individuals.
“The EU will continue to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe, with a particular attention to the human rights situation and recalls its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly,” reads a statement issued by the EU.
The EU’s choice significantly affects the re-engagement initiatives of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.
Specifically, the sanctions, notably the arms embargo and the targeted asset freeze against Zimbabwe Defence Industries, pose a substantial obstacle to the administration’s objectives and ambitions.
Sanctions against Zimbabwe were first imposed in 2011 in response to human rights violations during the tenure of the late Robert Mugabe.
These sanctions have been annually renewed since then, with periodic adjustments involving the removal or addition of entities and individuals to the sanctions list.
