International Reaction To The 2008 Zimbabwean Presidential Election - United States

United States

Immediately after the election, US President George W. Bush said on June 28, 2008 that the US would be imposing new sanctions on "this illegitimate government of Zimbabwe and those who support it", and he called for an international arms embargo on Zimbabwe and the barring of travel by members of its government.

Bush said on July 15 that he was unhappy with Russia and China's Security Council veto and that the US Departments of State and the Treasury were "working on potential US action". At a Senate hearing later on the same day, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer said that US sanctions were planned to target individuals as well as Zimbabwean government institutions, although she noted that European sanctions would be more effective because the Zimbabwean economy was more connected to Europe; she also criticized the Russian and Chinese veto, saying that it "enabled Mugabe". Also on July 15, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Mugabe's "tyranny" would cause "perennial instability" in southern Africa for as long as it existed.

Bush announced the signing of an order expanding sanctions on July 25. The US Treasury Department identified 17 entities and one individual (Thamer Bin Saeed Ahmed al-Shanfari, an Omani businessman who is alleged to work with the Zimbabwean government, but who strongly denies these allegations and is taking major action to clear his name.) who would have any of their assets in the US frozen. Bush also said that if the talks "result in a new government that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people, the United States stands ready to provide a substantial assistance package, development aid, and normalization with international financial institutions".

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