EU relaxes Mugabe travel ban

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/03/eu-relaxes-mugabe-travel-ban

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The European Union is easing its travel ban on Zimbabwe’s president, Robert Mugabe, while he serves as chairman of the African Union for the next year.

EU spokeswoman Catherine Ray said on Tuesday the ban would be lifted when he is travelling “under his African Union chairmanship capacity”.

The EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 over abuses linked to national elections, banning travel in Europe and freezing the assets of dozens of officials and business representatives.

The measures have been gradually lifted in recent years to encourage reform but the 90-year-old Zimbabwean leader and his wife Grace remain on the EU blacklist.

The role of rotating AU chairman is largely ceremonial.