http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=765



UN Arms Embargo on CAR Blocks Transport of Hunting Firearms

(posted March 18, 2016)

Hunters on their way to Central African Republic (CAR) may not be able to take firearms with them due to airline enforcement of a UN embargo. Although the government of CAR has petitioned the UN for an exemption of sporting firearms from the embargo, there is no telling when or if such an exemption will be made.

The Hunting Report initially learned of this development from Steve Turner at Travel with Guns (www.travelwithguns.com) when Air France informed him that his client would not be allowed to take a hunting rifle on an Air France flight to CAR. Later, Samuel Kangahode at Air France emailed the following to CAR operator Jacques Lemaux:

"This is not an Air France boycott on the transport of hunting arms. The reason arms will not be permitted is a United Nations embargo. As a matter of course, Air France respects all UN treaties and sanctions."

Hunters have been traveling to CAR with guns without incident for a number of years, but the UN arms embargo has been in place since 2013 following continued sectarian violence in that country. Because the embargo had not been enforced by airlines to date, it escaped the attention of the hunting community. The 2013 UN Resolution detailing the embargo states:

"All Member States shall immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the CAR, from or through 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..."

This embargo was recently extended through 2017 according to a UN press release here.

The Hunting Report verified that Air France is not the only airline likely to enforce the embargo by checking the TIMATIC (Travel Information Manual Automatic) system website, which is used by IATA (International Air Transport Association) to enforce international regulations and guidelines. Airlines regularly check the TIMATIC website for guidance on such issues. TIMATIC currently states, "Prohibited to import any type of firearms" under "Arms and Ammunition Regulations" in its information section on CAR.

As Hunting Report subscribers know all too well, even the temporary transport of firearms for hunting is considered the "import" of firearms for the purposes of embargos and sanctions. This means that all IATA members, not just Air France, should be expected to forbid hunters from carrying arms to CAR.

We have not yet determined why this embargo was not enforced in previous years. It may be that the TIMATIC system did not reflect the embargo until just recently and airlines were unaware of the prohibition on transporting arms to CAR.

Hunters may be tempted to try taking firearms to CAR just as they have over the last few years. We strongly advise against this however, as you may find yourself denied boarding or subject to seizure of guns and ammo, per the embargo requirements. If you are heading to CAR soon, we recommend contacting your outfitter immediately and arranging to borrow a rifle in country. Of course, should the UN grant an exemption for sport firearms, we will inform you immediately.

CAR is the only hunting destination currently subject to a UN embargo, so this situation is unique. - Justin Jones, Assistant Editor

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http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12222.doc.htm


Link to UN press release.

Another STUPID UN interference!

Logical. Didn't know hunters were going back into CAR. Good news.

Jacques Lemaux, "bongo man", has big balls.

I wonder if the UN has managed to deliver their letter to Joseph Kony yet, you know, just so they're all informed when they walk across from Congo that they may not bring their guns across.

This will also make things complicated for the new Chinko project to equip it's anti-poaching staff...

Could also complicate travel to Cameroon as I believe some of the flights stopover in CAR enroute to Cameroon.

that's a fact. the flight i took to Yaounde from Paris 2 years ago stopped first in Bangui( where my luggage was off loaded, never to be seen again).