Addis Ababa, October 26, 2025 (FMC) — The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all unilateral sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
In a statement issued to mark the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day, the AU Commission Chairperson reaffirmed the Union’s full solidarity with the government and people of Zimbabwe, expressing alignment with SADC’s long-standing position against the measures.
He noted that the continued application of these sanctions has caused lasting socio-economic harm, constraining Zimbabwe’s access to international finance, discouraging foreign investment, and increasing the cost of doing business across the region.
“These unilateral sanctions represent a significant impediment to the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region,” he stated, stressing that the restrictions undermine the collective efforts of African nations to realize the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The AU Commission Chairperson further pointed out that the sanctions have slowed Zimbabwe’s progress toward achieving its national development strategy, Vision 2030, and hindered broader economic convergence and integration within SADC.
Reaffirming the AU’s continued commitment, he underscored that the continental body will keep mobilizing support for Zimbabwe until all punitive measures are lifted, enabling the nation to achieve its full development potential for the benefit of its people and the continent at large.