Central African Republic

Purpose of the Sanctions Regime

This sanctions regime puts in place measures to encourage the government of the Central African Republic to comply with the relevant UN obligations, and to promote:

• the peace, stability and security of the Central African Republic
• the resolution of the armed conflicts and the stabilisation and reconciliation process including compliance with, and implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic
• the effective delivery of the mandates of the regional or international monitoring and peace-support missions and mechanisms in the Central African Republic
• respect for humanitarian assistance activity in the Central African Republic
• compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law applicable to the armed conflicts in the Central African Republic
• respect for human rights in the Central African Republic

On 30 July 2024, the UNSC lifted the arms embargo on the Central African Republic, also deciding that, until 31 July 2025, all Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel of all types to armed groups and associated individuals operating in that country.

Overview of current sanctions measures

Current sanctions measures implemented by Jersey in relation to the Central African Republic include:

• asset freezes and restrictions on making funds, financial services, and economic resources available to designated persons
• travel ban
• prohibitions against the export, supply and/or delivery, the making available of, or the transfer of military goods 
• prohibitions against the provision of technical assistance, financial services and funds, or brokering services, relating to military goods and military technology
• prohibition against enabling or facilitating the conduct of armed hostilities
• director disqualification sanctions

Latest news

9 April 2025

The UK Sanctions List has been updated, with amendments related to director disqualification sanctions to vary the designations of 2996 individuals and 818 entities.

*All published Latest News notices relating to financial sanctions, including those extending beyond the last 30 days, may be obtained from the Jersey Gazette

Jersey regime

The Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021 (the Jersey Order) implements the Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (the UK Regulations).

Article 3 of the Jersey Order imposes the asset-freeze provisions in Part 3 of the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019 (the SAFL) on any person listed by or under the UK Regulations. The Part 3 provisions also include, but are not limited to, Articles 15-17 of the SAFL on exceptions, licences, and circumventing prohibitions etc.

Offences

The offences for this regime are set out in both the SAFL and the Jersey Order.

Reporting obligations

Reporting obligations are set out at Article 32 of the SAFL and apply to all regimes in force. These obligations include requirements for a relevant financial institution to inform the Minister if:

• it holds an account of a person, has entered into dealings or an agreement with a person or has been approached by or on behalf of a person, and
• it knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that the person:
  • is a designated person, or;
  • has committed, is committing or intends to commit an offence under this Law, and
• the information or other matter on which the knowledge or reasonable cause for suspicion is based came to it in the course of carrying on its business.

Licences and exceptions

A Jersey General Licence, granted by the Minister, allows multiply parties to conduct specified activities that would otherwise be restricted by sanctions measures. Supervised persons must ensure that their activities are within the scope of the General Licence's terms and that they adhere to all its conditions.

The Minister may also grant a specific licence under the SAFL and/or the Jersey Order.

To apply for a specific sanctions licence a supervised person must complete the relevant Sanctions form and return the completed form to [email protected].

The FSIU provides guidance on sanctions licences and exceptions  on the Government of Jersey website Sanctions.

Legal acts

Jersey

• Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Jersey) Law 2019
• Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021

United Kingdom

• The Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
• The Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.3) Regulations 2020

United Nations Security Council

• UNSCRs
• UN Sanctions List Materials

Further information

Useful information is provided on GOV UK:

Financial sanctions, Central African Republic

Central African Republic sanctions: guidance 

Sanctions evasion typologies examples: UNSC Panel of Experts reports