| Status of the embargo | Lifted |
| Entité | State |
| Organisation(s) | UN & EU |
| Exceptions | Yes, no prior notification or approval Yes, prior notification |
Sierra Leone is no longer subject to any arms embargo.
Restrictions:
Conventional weapons
UN
Prohibitions
Between October 1997 and September 2010, the UN Security Council enforced an arms embargo which prohibited any supplies or sales of arms and related materiel to Sierra Leone. During the last phase of the embargo, starting in 1998, its scope was scaled down to only apply to non-state forces in Sierra Leone.
Exceptions
Requiring no prior approval from or notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone:
- During the last phase of the embargo, starting in 1998, “the sale or supply of arms and related materiel for the sole use in Sierra Leone of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) or the United Nations” (Resolution 1171 (1998), para. 3).
Requiring prior notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone:
- During the last phase of the embargo, starting in 1998, the supply or sale of arms and related materiel to the government of Sierra Leone, provided that such items transited only through certain entry points listed by the Government of Sierra Leone. Moreover, the Government of Sierra Leone had to report, register and notify any imports of arms and related materiel to the aforementioned Committee (Resolution 1171 (1998), para. 3).
Others
See Resolutions 1132 (1997), 1171 (1998) and 1940 (2010).
Sierra Leone was also subject to EU arms embargo from June 1998 to October 2010.
EU
Prohibitions
Between June 1998 and October 2010, the EU enforced arms-related sanctions which transposed those of the UN. The EU arms embargo prohibited the sale or supply of arms and related materiel to Sierra Leone.
Exceptions
Requiring no prior approval from or notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone:
- “The sale or supply of arms and related materiel for the sole use in Sierra Leone of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) or the United Nations” (Common Position 98/409/CFSP, art. 3).
Requiring prior notification to the UN Sanctions Committee on Sierra Leone:
- the supply or sale of arms and related materiel to the government of Sierra Leone, provided that such items transited only through certain entry points listed by the Government of Sierra Leone. Moreover, the Government of Sierra Leone had to report, register and notify any imports of arms and related materiel to the aforementioned Committee (Common Position 98/409/CFSP art. 2).
- Others
See Common Position 98/409/CFSP and Council Decision 2010/677/CFSP
Sierra Leone was also under UN arms embargo.