Paris
France has invited Zimbabwe’s dictatorial President Robert Mugabe to a Franco-African summit in Paris next month, angering other European countries. The E.U. banned Mugabe from its borders last year when he unleashed violent gangs to intimidate voters in an election widely declared fraudulent. The travel ban and other sanctions against Zimbabwe will expire in mid-February, the day before the summit. Most E.U. countries are seeking to renew them, but France wants an exception to be made for its event. Zimbabwe’s struggling opposition said it found the invitation demoralizing. “It amounts to a recognition and support of Mugabe’s gruesome record at home,” said Morgan Tsvangirai, who ran against Mugabe in the disputed election. “Zimbabweans crave to live in a democratic country.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meatThe Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human bloodUnder the radar Drugging the bugs
