The president of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called, on Wednesday, for the “immediate and unconditional” lifting of European Union (EU) and United States sanctions against Zimbabwe because they affect the country’s growth.
“Moussa Mahamat once again renews the African Union’s long-standing request for the immediate and unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed against institutions and individuals of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” the commission (secretariat) of the pan-African organization said in a statement.
The AU Commission, which is based in Addis Ababa, added that “Moussa Mahamat remains deeply concerned about the negative impact that sanctions continue to have on Zimbabwe’s social and economic development, amid the current global food and energy crisis.” He reaffirmed the AU’s “commitment” to supporting Zimbabwe’s “efforts” for the full lifting of sanctions”.
The chairman of the AU Commission made the remarks on the so-called Anti-Sanctions Day, which the Southern African Development Community (SADC) celebrates every year on 25 October from 2019 onwards.
