Legacy of Robert Mugabe to Learn from

Robert Mugabe faced some of the most extensive and prolonged sanctions of any African president, with European Union (EU) sanctions against him lasting 15 years, which is significantly longer than the average duration of such measures. However, determining if he was the single most sanctioned is complex due to the varying nature, scope (individual vs. national), and duration of sanctions imposed on different African leaders and countries throughout history. 

Key points regarding sanctions on Robert Mugabe:

Duration: The EU imposed targeted sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freezes, on Mugabe and his inner circle in 2002 in response to human rights abuses and political violence. These sanctions were maintained against him personally until his death.

Scope: The sanctions primarily targeted Mugabe, his family (like his wife Grace Mugabe), and specific entities and individuals within his government and ZANU-PF party, rather than the entire country's economy initially.

Impact: The sanctions, coupled with his government's policies like the seizure of white-owned farms, contributed to Zimbabwe's severe economic decline and hyperinflation.

Comparison: While Mugabe endured a long period of targeted personal sanctions, other African nations have faced broader, national-level economic sanctions (such as South Africa during apartheid or the arms embargo on the Central African Republic), which arguably had a wider-reaching impact on the entire nation. 

Ultimately, Robert Mugabe is consistently cited as a prime example of an African leader subjected to long-running, targeted international sanctions due to his autocratic rule and human rights record.