The
bloc
first
imposed
sanctions
in
February
2002
over
serious
human
rights
violations
under
the
government
of
former
President
Robert
Mugabe,
including
restrictions
on
freedom
of
expression,
association,
and
peaceful
assembly.
Mugabe
stepped
down
following
a
military
intervention
in
2017
and
died
two
years
later.
Under
the
measures,
it
is
prohibited
to
grant,
sell,
supply
or
transfer
military
equipment
or
related
technical
assistance
to
Zimbabwe.
The
embargo
has
been
renewed
periodically
since
2004
and
was
due
to
expire
on
February
20,
2026,
before
the
latest
extension.
In
a
statement,
the
European
Council
said
the
EU
remains
“constructively
engaged”
with
Zimbabwe
and
hopes
to
deepen
bilateral
relations,
particularly
in
trade
and
investment.
Most
targeted
measures
lifted
The
council
added
that
asset
freezes
and
travel
bans
are
no
longer
in
force
because
no
individuals
or
entities
remain
designated.
Zimbabwe
Defence
Industries,
previously
the
last
entity
on
the
sanctions
list,
was
removed
last
year.
The
United
States
has
taken
a
tougher
stance,
placing
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
on
its
Global
Magnitsky
sanctions
list
in
2024
over
alleged
abuses
following
his
disputed
election
victory,
Bloomberg
reported.
Diversified
arms
sources
beyond
the
West
Because
of
the
restrictions,
Zimbabwe
has
sourced
military
equipment
from
other
partners.
China
has
been
one
of
its
most
prominent
suppliers,
accounting
for
more
than
one-third
of
the
country’s
major
weapons
imports
between
1980
and
2009.
In
2023,
Beijing
donated
military
equipment
worth
200
million
yuan
($28
million)
to
support
security
operations
and
modernise
the
armed
forces.
Russia
has
also
emerged
as
a
supplier,
providing
arms,
ammunition
and
spare
parts,
with
notable
import
values
recorded
in
recent
years.