Zimbabwe: EU extends sanctions by one year

On 15 February 2016, the Council adopted a decision extending EU restrictive measures against Zimbabwe until 20 February 2017. The decision follows the annual review of EU restrictive measures against Zimbabwe. 

The restrictive measures will continue to apply to Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace Mugabe, and Zimbabwe Defense Industries, while measures against five high ranking members of the security apparatus will remain suspended. Furthermore, 78 persons and 8 entities, against whom measures had been suspended, will be removed from the list. An arms embargo will remain in place. 

The decision will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 17 February 2016.

The restrictive measures were initially introduced in February 2002, when the Council expressed grave concern at the situation in Zimbabwe, in particular at serious human rights violations by the country's government.