The African Union (AU) wants all remaining sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe to be lifted immediately and unconditionally.
In a statement issued on Friday to mark SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed concern about the negative impact of continued sanctions on Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development and recovery efforts.
October 25 has been designated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as SADC Anti-Sanctions Day to protest against the sanctions imposed by the West.
Mahamat also encouraged all parties to continue constructive dialogue to remove the remaining sanctions imposed on Zimbabwean individuals and institutions.
“The Chairperson reaffirms the full support of the African Union to the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) efforts in this regard, and aligns fully with the position of SADC on the issue.”
Mahamat’s call echoed a similar one by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who said the sanctions “violate the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
“I implore all progressive countries to continue rendering their principled support to enable Zimbabwe and the SADC region to meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of the region and the world,” Mnangagwa said in an address on Thursday.
In March, the U.S. imposed sanctions on 11 Zimbabweans, including Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, over alleged human rights abuses and corruption. The executive order signed by President Joe Biden, however, ended a sanctions program on Zimbabwe that had been in force since 2003.
There are other sanctions maintained on Zimbabwe through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001.
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