The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, September 12 unanimously approved to ease an arms embargo on the Central African Republic for the first time since 2013 when it was plunged in violence.
The resolution drafted by pen holder; France, authorizes the country’s security forces including state civilian law enforcement institutions to be supplied with small weapons of a calibre of 14.5 mm or less, as long as the U.N. has been notified at least 20 days in advance.
The CAR in the notification must specify the type, calibre, quantity and serial or lot numbers of the weapons as well as the manufacturer and supplier. Under no circumstances can the weapons be sold or transferred to third parties, according to the resolution.
Supplies of non-lethal equipment and assistance to the security forces, or intended solely for humanitarian or protective use are exempted from the embargo.
The U.N. sanctions committee can also approve supplies of other arms and lethal equipment and related material.
Russia, which has already made two deliveries of weapons to the Central African Republic and provides. Russia also provide CAR’s military forces with technical assistance with financial compensation.
Since 2013, the U.N. has enforced a total arms embargo, but the government has repeatedly called for the restrictions to be lifted to allow arms supplies to shore up its security forces fighting militias that control much of the country.































