Canada-Central African Republic Relations
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In the Central African Republic (CAR), Canada has been represented by the Canadian High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon since 1962. Canada also has an Honorary Consulate in Bangui, Central African Republic. The Central African Republic has been represented in Canada by its Embassy in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., since 1974.
Bilateral relations between Canada and the CAR are modest. Canada condemns the seizure of power by Séléka in March 2013 and calls for a return of constitutional order and restoration of security. Canada is very concerned with continuous insecurity and serious human rights violations as well as the growing humanitarian needs in the country. Canada encourages the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the African Union (AU) to continue their efforts in order to find durable solutions to the political and security crisis as well as chronic instability that impede the CAR’s development.
The two countries collaborate in multilateral forums, such as the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), however the OIF suspended the CAR in April 2013 following the seizure of power by Séléka. Since 2008, the CAR has received more than $33 M from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), to which Canada is one of the largest contributors.
Although there is no bilateral assistance program with the CAR, Canada contributes indirectly to obtaining development results in the CAR through its long-term institutional support for multilateral and international organizations. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) provides substantial support to multilateral partners working in the CAR, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund (through structural adjustment facilities and the poverty reduction and growth facility), the GAVI Alliance (a global partnership which brings together private- and public-sector players for the immunisation and health development of children in poor countries), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Given the protracted grave humanitarian situation in the CAR, CIDA has been providing humanitarian assistance on an annual basis to partner agencies working in this country for a number of years. Since 2007, Canada has provided over $17.5 million in humanitarian assistance to meet emergency needs in the CAR. Some of those humanitarian partners include Doctors Without Borders (DWB), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Canada also finances local projects through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) which is managed by the Canadian High Commission in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Canada is a member of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) whose objective is to support the implementation of the Central African Forest Commission’s (COMIFAC’s) action plan for conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin forest ecosystems. The Central African Republic is a member of CBFP and COMIFAC.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) supports the CAR through the African Model Forest Network Initiative, a component of Canada's global support for sustainable forest management through the International Model Forest Network. Since 2009, NRCan has supported the African Model Forest Network, which is working with the CAR to establish a first Model Forest in the Lobaye prefecture, in the southwest of the country
Trade relations between the two countries remain very modest.
May 2013
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