Canadian Sanctions Related to Eritrea

Prohibitions

Sanctions related to Eritrea were enacted under the United Nations Act to give effect to United Nations Security Council resolutions. The measures imposed included:

• a prohibition on the sale, supply or transfer of arms and related material to Eritrea and to persons designated by the UN committee established by Resolution 751 (1992) to oversee the sanctions against Somalia and Eritrea (the 751 Committee);
• a prohibition on the provision to Eritrea and to persons designated by the 751 Committee of technical, training, financial or other assistance related to military activities or to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related material of all types;
• an assets freeze against persons designated by the 751 Committee; and
• a travel ban against persons designated by the 751 Committee.

Background

On January 23, 1992, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 733 (1992), which ordered an immediate and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Somalia in response to the rapid deterioration of the situation and the heavy loss of human life and widespread material damage resulting from the conflict in that country. From 2001 to 2008, a number of further resolutions were adopted which strengthened and created a number of exceptions to the arms embargo.

Additionally, in 2008, there were clashes along the Eritrea-Djibouti border and Eritrea was condemned by the international community for initiating hostilities. In January 2009, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1862 which demanded that Eritrea ensure that no military presence or activity was being pursued in Djibouti, that it acknowledge its border dispute with Djibouti, that it engage actively in dialogue to defuse the tension and in diplomatic efforts leading to a mutually acceptable settlement of the border issue, and that it cooperate fully with the UN Secretary-General's good offices. Eritrea did not comply with resolution 1862.

During 2009, there was increased focus on Eritrea’s destabilizing role in Somalia, and its violation of the embargo.

Consequently, on December 23, 2009, the UN Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, adopted Resolution 1907 (2009) determining that Eritrea’s actions undermine peace and reconciliation in Somalia and that the dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea constitutes a threat to international peace and security. Resolution 1907 demands that Eritrea immediately comply with Resolution 1862 and that all states, and in particular Eritrea, cease any support of armed opposition groups in Somalia.

Resolution 1907 also imposes sanctions against Eritrea and persons designated by a committee of the Security Council. The Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolution on Eritrea made under the legislative authority of the United Nations Act incorporate these sanctions into Canadian domestic law. Implementation of the travel ban imposed by Resolution 1907 is ensured in Canada under existing provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

On November 14, 2018, the Security Council decided in Resolution 2444 to terminate the measures that it had imposed. On June 1, 2020, Canada repealed the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolution on Eritrea.

Selected documents

Related links

• United Nations Security Council 751 Committee (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 - Eritrea 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.