ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has once again renewed its long-standing demand for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the unilateral sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe.
In a press statement issued on Friday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said he remains "extremely" concerned by the negative impact of the unilateral sanctions on Zimbabwe's socio-economic development.
He emphasized that the unilateral sanctions have significantly constrained Zimbabwe's access to international financial systems, deterred foreign direct investment, increased the cost of doing business, and severely limited the country's ability to secure development assistance.
Youssouf noted that the sanctions have severely undermined progress towards achieving the country's Vision 2030, regional macro-economic convergence and integration targets, the AU's Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The chairperson reaffirmed the AU's continued commitment to supporting Zimbabwe in mobilizing efforts for the lifting of the unilateral sanctions and aligning itself with the statement made by the chairperson of Southern African Development Community, which calls for immediate, total, and unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on institutions and individuals of the Southeastern African country. ■