Canadian Sanctions Related to Central African Republic

Prohibitions

Sanctions related to Central African Republic (CAR) were enacted under the United Nations Act to give effect to United Nations Security Council resolutions. Subject to certain exceptions, the measures imposed against CAR include:

• a prohibition on the export of arms and related materiel to CAR or to any person in CAR;
• a prohibition on the provision, to the CAR or to any person in the CAR, of technical or financial assistance related to military activities or armed mercenaries;
• an assets freeze against persons designated by the UN committee established by Resolution 2127 (2013) to oversee the sanctions against CAR (the 2127 Committee); and
• a travel ban against persons designated by the 2127 Committee.

Exceptions

There are some exceptions, including for the following:

• supplies intended solely for the support of certain regional or international operations in CAR;
• supplies of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use;
• protective clothing temporarily exported to CAR by United Nations personnel, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, solely for their personal use;
• supplies of small arms and other related equipment intended solely for international patrols defending against poaching, smuggling, and other illegal activities; and
• supplies of non-lethal military equipment and technical assistance, arms and related material to CAR security forces intended solely for the support of or use in the CAR’s security sector reform.

On June 19, 2023, the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on the Central African Republic were amended to allow the provision, processing or payment of funds, other financial assets or economic resources or the provision of goods and services that are necessary to ensure the timely delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance or to support other activities related to basic human needs, if provided by specified groups. These changes are the result of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022), which created a carve-out for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in all current UN sanctions regimes that impose asset freezes.

Background

On December 5, 2013, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2127 (2013), imposing an arms embargo against the Central African Republic. On January 28, 2014, the Security Council also adopted Resolution 2134 (2014), which imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on individuals or entities designated by the Committee of the Security Council (the 2127 Committee) established under paragraph 57 of Security Council Resolution 2127 (2013).

Selected documents

Related links

• United Nations Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 2127 (2013) (information concerning the work of the Committee including related UN Security Council resolutions and a consolidated list of designated persons)
• Export and Import Controls
• Canada-Central African Republic Relations

Legal advice

Please be advised that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide legal advice to members of the public. For this reason, we cannot deliver an opinion as to whether or not a specific activity or transaction would contravene sanctions legislation. You should consider seeking legal advice in relation to an activity that may contravene a Canadian sanction law.