The EU and US have targeted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his cronies with travel bans, while also imposing financial sanctions on several Zimbabwe firms. First imposed in 2002, the EU sanctions came on the heels of reports of human rights abuses by Mr. Mugabe’s government. The US followed with sanctions in 2003.
Earlier this month, the EU extended sanctions for one year because it did not think Mugabe had made adequate political reforms. US President Obama also extended sanctions in March 2009. Mugabe has fought back, describing the sanctions as interference in domestic politics.
