The European Union has extended its sanctions on President Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries until 20 February 2017.

The decision was announced yesterday following the annual review of restrictive measures against Zimbabwe and will be published in the Official Journal of the EU tomorrow.

According to a statement by the EU an arms embargo on the country remains in place.

Sanctions against five high ranking members of the security apparatus remain suspended while the names of 78 people and eight entities on whom sanctions had been suspended are to be removed from the list.

The EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in February 2002 but eased them in 2014 leaving only Mugabe and his wife and the defence firm.

The United States maintains sanctions on Zimbabwe and most of the top ranking officials of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

The sanctions were imposed on the country because of its alleged human rights violations but can be used to stop any loans from international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Zimbabwe has agreed with the three IFIs to repay its arrears in April so that it can access new funds, but the US President can veto any loans through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act.

See also:

Twelve years on, Mugabe says he doesn’t understand why Zimbabwe is under sanctions

Obama admits sanctions are hurting the innocent but says you have to send clear signals

Monica Mutsvangwa signed the US$3.4 million US sanctions busting agreement

EU sanctions removal a tonic for Zimbabwe companies revival – Bimha

Chicago sanctions busters were interested in Zimbabwe’s diamonds not just bailing out Mugabe

Tsvangirai tells Washington to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe so that Mugabe has no excuse for failing economy

US removes two State banks from Zimbabwe sanctions list

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