| Status of the embargo | Ongoing |
| Entity | State |
| Organisation(s) imposing embargo(es) | UN & EU |
| Restriction(s) | Conventional weapons |
| Exceptions | No |
The Central African Republic (CAR) is currently under UN and EU arms embargoes.
UN
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been under UN arms embargo since December 2013 (Resolution 2127 (2013)). As of July 27, 2023, the Security Council renewed the sanctions regime, but decided that the arms embargo which forms part of it would no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel to CAR security forces (Resolution 2693 (2023), para.1). To underline this further, the Security Council formally lifted the original embargo in July 2024 and replaced with one that specifically bans arms supplies to armed groups and associated individuals operating in the country (Resolution 2745 (2024)).
- Conventional weapons
Prohibitions
The current sanctions regime, as detailed in Resolution 2745 (2024), decides that all Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent :
- the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer, from their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned to armed groups and associated individuals operating in the CAR, including prohibiting technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance, related to military activities or the provision, maintenance or use of any arms and related materiel (Resolution 2745 (2024), para. 2).
Others
The Security Council decided to authorise all Member States to, and that all Member States shall, upon discovery of items prohibited by paragraph 2 of resolution 2745, seize, register and dispose (such as through destruction, rendering inoperable, storage or transferring to a State other than the originating or destination States for disposal)(Resolution 2745 (2024), para. 3). The Member State who seizes and disposes of such items shall notify the Committee of such disposal within 30 days providing details of all items disposed of and the precise manner in which they were disposed of.
The duration of the sanctions regime is one year, and must be re-evaluated no later than July 31, 2025 (Resolution 2745 (2024), para. 2).
The Central African Republic is also under EU arms embargo.
EU
The Central African Republic (CAR) has been under EU arms embargo since December 2013 (Decision 2013/798/CFSP). The EU arms embargo against CAR transposes that of the UN and has been renewed to date.
- Conventional weapons
Prohibitions
The current sanctions regime, as detailed in updated versions of Council Decision 2013/798/CFSP and Regulation 224/2014, prohibits :
- the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, directly or indirectly, to armed groups and associated individuals operating in the Central African Republic (CAR) by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories. (Decision 2013/798/CFSP, art.1, para.1).
- to provide technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to military activities and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, directly or indirectly, to armed groups and associated individuals operating in the CAR (Decision 2013/798/CFSP, art.1, para.2, a, and Regulation 224/2014, art.2. a)
- to provide financing or financial assistance related to military activities, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services and other services, directly or indirectly, to armed groups and associated individuals operating in the CAR (Decision 2013/798/CFSP, art.1, para.2 b, and Regulation 224/2014, art.2. b)
- to participate, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the prohibitions referred to in point (a) or (b).’ (Decision 2013/798/CFSP, art.1, para.2 c)
Exceptions
Article 2, specifying exceptions to this sanctions regime, was deleted by the Council Decision of 24 March 2025 amending the Decision Decision 2013/798/CFSP.
Others
The EU sanctions regime is indefinite.
The CAR is also under UN arms embargo.
Restrictions diagram:
Conventional weapons