The US put sanctions on Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa and other top officials, accusing them of stealing public money for themselves.
This replaces old sanctions from 2003 and targets 11 people and 3 groups under the Global Magnitsky program.
The US says these actions hurt Zimbabwe and other places by supporting crime like bribery and smuggling.
They also criticized how Zimbabwe treats its people and limits political activity. Besides the president, the vice president and a businessman were also hit with sanctions, along with Mnangagwa’s wife for helping him be corrupt.
The US says these actions are as bad as those of the worst criminals in the world. They clarify that the sanctions are against individuals, not Zimbabwe itself.
Zimbabwe’s government hasn’t responded, but in the past, they’ve said these sanctions are just a way for Western countries to control them.
(Based on BBC reporting)