UN Security Council Lifts Arms Embargo on the Central African Republic

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on July 30, lifted an arms embargo on the Central African Republic (CAR) that has been in place since 2013. In addition to lifting the embargo, the UNSC decided that "until July 31, 2025, all member states shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related material of all types to armed groups and associated individuals operating in that country.".What You Need to Know.The embargo, in place since December 2013, aimed to prevent the provision of arms and related material to the Central African nation—with the exception of the country's security services—in response to the deteriorating security situation caused by an offensive by the Seleka rebels against the government in 2012..In early 2013, another militia, the Anti-Balaka, was formed in opposition to the Seleka rebels. The two groups conducted increasing attacks against each other as well as against government forces, in addition to the various other armed groups operating in the country. The embargo was imposed to hinder the flow of weapons into the state and in effect, the flow of weapons into the hands of rebel militias..During the UNSC meeting, the CAR representative thanked the international actors involved in lifting the embargo, claiming the decision "restores dignity" to the CAR. The representative specifically thanked France, which played a significant role in establishing inclusive negotiations on the matter, for "joining us to put an end to this injustice.".The Russian representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that the decision was "long overdue," adding, "Russia has repeatedly spoken about it at this table. We are convinced that in the future we need to react more quickly to the evolution of the situation in states under SC sanctions and adapt the restrictions imposed. It is unacceptable to supplement the Security Council restrictions with illegal unilateral restrictions.".The Details.The Russian ambassador's comments came just four days after the Central African Republic's Minister of Defense, Rameaux-Claude Bireau, denounced "certain national and international media" for reporting on the alleged beheading of two Anti-Balaka militiamen by the nation's armed forces (FACA)..Radio Lengo Songo, the media network that reported on the Minister's statement, is, according to the French Finance Ministry, "financed by Lobaye Invest, a private company linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin and associated with the Wagner Group, which serves as a cover for its activities in the CAR.".Lobaye Invest, which has likely been under the control of the Russian Ministry of Defense since Prigozhin's death in August 2023, is also sanctioned by the United States for the company's role in funding Russia's war in Ukraine..According to the US Treasury Department, Lobaye Invest was founded in the CAR in 2017 and is listed as an extractive resource company, specializing in the extraction of gold and diamonds..In Africa, Russia employs private military companies (PMCs) such as Wagner—now rebranded as the Africa Corps and under the control of the Russian Intelligence Office—to provide security to autocratic regimes and engage in counterterrorism operations..Often, African nations pay in resources such as gold, which enables the Kremlin to circumvent Western sanctions imposed as a result of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine..Initially deploying to the country in 2018, the first Russian 'military advisors' in the CAR were tasked with training the FACA, while the number of Russian personnel now in the country is estimated to be around 2,000..Opposition media outlet Corbeau News Centrafrique has continuously reported on the activities of the Russian personnel in the country, stating, "Last month [June], mercenaries kidnapped about twenty former self-defense militiamen from the PK5 neighborhood in the third district of Bangui. Ten bodies of these kidnapped former militiamen were found; the others remain untraceable.".Most recently, the FACA, alongside Russian mercenaries, killed Jose Befio, an Anti-Balaka General..So, What Now?.In addition to lifting the embargo, the UNSC extended the mandate of the UN's Panel of Experts on the CAR, who have been asked to "devote special attention" to understanding the country's arms trafficking networks, which have enabled the nation's many armed groups to secure arms supplies despite the embargo..Additionally, the Panel must provide progress updates on the country "as appropriate," as well as a mid-term report by January 31, 2025, and a final report by June 15, 2025..Moreover, the CAR is set to hold its first local elections since 1988 in October, with the UN formally requested by the nation's government to provide electoral assistance during the CAR's presidential and legislative elections in 2025 and 2026..Thus, the lifting of the embargo can be seen as a positive step in the country's path to peace, although the continued presence of Russian mercenaries in the country—whose human rights abuses are well documented—may serve to disrupt the peace process.