Canada-the Central African Republic relations

On this page

• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• Development and humanitarian assistance
• Peace and security
• Partnerships and organizations

Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Canada and the Central African Republic (CAR) are cordial. Canada encourages the restoration of peace and security, mainly through its support to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR. Canada also supports the CAR through humanitarian assistance.

Canada has been represented in the CAR by the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon, in Yaoundé since 1962. Canada also has an Honorary Consulate in Bangui, the capital of the CAR.

The Central African Republic has been represented in Canada by its Embassy in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., since 1974.

Trade relations

Commercial relations between the two countries remain very modest.

In 2021, bilateral trade amounted to approximately $1.5 million.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in the Central African Republic

Development and humanitarian assistance

Canada has been providing international assistance to partner agencies working in the Central African Republic (CAR) for many years. From April 2011 to March 2021, Canada provided more than $233 million to the CAR, including $129 million in humanitarian assistance. Of this amount, $36.31 million was provided for the 2020 to 2021 fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). Global Affairs Canada provided $32.59 million of this amount, including $18.02 million in humanitarian assistance.

Canada also continues to support multilateral and pan-African organizations through activities in the CAR and regional programs in Africa in key sectors related to Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

For more information on specific projects in the CAR, see the Project Browser.

Peace and security

Canada supports a full range of activities undertaken by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) which took over from the African Union mission on September 15, 2014.

Canada is a top donor to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), having made a two year $15 million commitment in 2019. The PBF funds fast, catalytic peacebuilding and conflict prevention projects in 34 fragile and conflict-affected countries, including the CAR, which received US$23 million for 11 projects in 2019.

Canada has supported the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in the CAR with the deployment of a war crimes expert as the International Deputy Prosecutor since October 2017. This deployment is consistent with Canada’s commitments to re-engage in the full spectrum of UN peace operations allowing Canada to contribute to international efforts.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and the Central African Republic work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• La Francophonie
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)