Arms Embargoes Database
Arms embargoes are one type of sanctions that can be used to coerce states and non-governmental actors to improve their behaviour in the interests of international peace and security.
This database gives information on all multilateral arms embargoes that have been implemented by an international organisation, such as the EU or UN, or by a group of nations. It provides details of the aims, scope and amendments to all arms embargoes that are in force, or have been in force since 1998 and to most that were in force, before 1998. The database is constantly updated to include information on new arms embargoes or significant modifications to existing arms embargoes. Annual summaries of arms embargo related events can be found at:
2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 -2003 - 2002.
UN arms embargoes
| Target |
Entry into force |
Lifted |
Establishing Document |
Mandatory UN embargoes |
|||
| Afghanistan (Taliban) | 19 Dec. 2000 | (16 Jan. 2002) | UNSCR 1333 |
| Al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities | 16 Jan. 2002 | - | UNSCR 1390 |
| Taliban |
16 Jan. 2002 | - | UNSCR 1390 |
| Angola (UNITA) | 15 Sep. 1993 | 9 Dec. 2002 | UNSCR 864 |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 15 Nov. 2004 | - | UNSCR 1572 |
| DRC (NGF) | 28 Jul.2003 | - | UNSCR 1493 |
| Eritrea | 17 May 2000 | 15 May 2001 | UNSCR 1298 |
| Eritrea Ethiopia |
23 Dec. 2009 17 May 2000 |
- 15 May 2001 |
UNSCR 1907 UNSCR 1298 |
| Haiti | 16 Jun. 1993 | 29 Sep. 1994 | UNSCR 841 |
| Iran |
23 Dec. 2006 | - | UNSCR 1737 |
| Iraq (NGF since 2004) |
6 Aug. 1990 | - | UNSCR 661 |
| Lebanon (NGF) | 11 Aug. 2006 | - | UNSCR 1701 |
| Liberia (NGF since 2009) |
19 Nov. 1992 | - | UNSCR 788 |
| Libya | 31 Mar. 1992 | 12 Sep. 2003 (suspended 5 Apr.1999) | UNSCR 748 |
| Libya | 26 Feb. 2011 | - | UNSCR 1970 |
| North Korea (DPRK) |
14 Oct. 2006 | - |
UNSCR 1718 |
| Rwanda (NGF) | 16 Aug. 1995 | 10 Jul. 2008 | UNSCR 1011 |
| Sierra Leone (NGF) | 5 Jun. 1998 | 29 Sep. 2010 | UNSCR 1171 |
| Somalia | 23 Jan. 1992 | - | UNSCR 733 |
| South Africa |
4 Nov. 1977 | 25 May 1994 | UNSCR 418 |
| Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) | 16 Dec. 1966 | 21 Dec. 1979 | UNSCR 232 |
| Sudan (Darfur region) | 30 Jul.2004 | - | UNSCR 1556 |
| Yugoslavia (FRY) | 25 Sep. 1991 | 1 Oct. 1996 | UNSCR 713 |
| Yugoslavia (FRY) | 31 Mar. 1998 | 10 Sep. 2001 | UNSCR 1160 |
Non Mandatory UN Embargoes |
|||
| Afghanistan | 22 Oct. 1996 | (Oct. 2001) | UNSCR 1076 |
| Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan) Eritrea |
29 Jul. 1993 12 Feb. 1999 |
2002 17 May 2000 |
UNSCR 853 UNSCR 1227 |
| Ethiopia | 12 Feb. 1999 |
17 May 2000 | UNSCR 1227 |
| South Africa | 7 Aug. 1963 | 4 Nov. 1977 (25 May 1994) | UNSCR 181 |
| Target | Entry into force | Lifted | Establishing Document |
EU embargoes (mandatory only for EU members) |
|||
| Afghanistan | 17 Dec. 1996 | (26 Feb. 2001) | 96/746/CFSP |
| Afghanistan (Taliban) | (26 Feb. 2001) | (27 May 2002) | 2001/154/CFSP |
| Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Osama Bin Laden | 27 May 2002 | - | 2002/402/CFSP |
| Belarus | 20 Jun.2011 | - | 2011/357/CFSP |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5 Jul. 1991 | 23. Jan 2006 | EC declaration |
| China | 27 Jun.1989 | - | EC declaration |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 15 Nov. 2004 | - | 2004/852/CFSP |
| Croatia | 5 Jul. 1991 | 20 Nov. 2000 | EC declaration |
| DRC (NGF since 2003) |
7 Apr. 1993 | - | EC declaration |
| Eritrea | 1 Mar. 2010 | - | 2010/127/CFSP |
| Eritrea | 15 Mar. 1999 | 31 May 2001 | 1999/206/CFSP |
| Ethiopia | 15 Mar. 1999 | 31 May 2001 | 1999/206/CFSP |
| Guinea |
27 Oct. 2009 | - | 2009/788/CFSP |
| Indonesia | 17 Sep. 1999 | 17 Jan. 2000 | 1999/624/CFSP |
| Iran | 23 Apr.2007 | - | 2007/246/CFSP |
| Iraq (NGF since 2004) |
4 Aug. 1990 | - | EC declaration |
| Lebanon (NGF) |
15 Sep. 2006 | - | 2006/625/CFSP |
| Liberia | 7 May 2001 | - | 2001/357/CFSP |
| Libya | 27 Jan. 1986 | 11 Oct. 2004 | EC declaration |
| Libya | 28 Feb. 2011 | - |
2011/137/CFSP |
| Myanmar (Burma) | 29 Jul. 1991 | - | EC declaration |
| Nigeria | 20 Nov. 1995 | 1 Jun. 1999 | 95/515/CFSP |
| North Korea (DPRK) | 22 Nov. 2006 | - | 2006/795/CFSP |
| Sierra Leone (NGF) | 5 Jun. 1998 | 29 Oct. 2010 |
98/409/CFSP |
| Slovenia | 5 Jul. 1991 | (16 Feb. 1996) | EC declaration |
| Somalia | 10 Dec. 2002 | - | 2002/960/CFSP |
| South Sudan | 18 Jul. 2011 | - | 2011/423/CFSP |
| Sudan | 15 Mar. 1994 | - | 94/165/CFSP |
| Syria | 9 May. 2011 | - | 2011/273/CFSP |
| Uzbekistan | 14 Nov. 2005 | 31 Oct. 2009 |
2005/792/CFSP |
| Yugoslavia (FRY) | 5 Jul. 1991 | 8 Oct. 2001 | EC declaration |
| Zimbabwe | 18 Feb. 2002 | - | 2002/145/CFSP |
Other multilateral embargoes |
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| Target | Entry into force | Lifted | Establishing Document |
| Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan) (OSCE) | 28 Feb. 1992 | - | OSCE statement |
| Burundi (7 C/E African States) | 6 Aug. 1996 | 23 Jan. 1999 | - |
| Guinea (ECOWAS) | 17 Oct. 2009 | 25 Mar. 2011 | - |
| Nigeria (Commonwealth) | 24 Apr. 1996 | Nov. 1999 | - |
| Syria (League of Arab States) | 3 Dec. 2011 | - | LAS statement |
| Togo (ECOWAS) | 19 Feb. 2005 | 26 Feb. 2005 | - |
| Togo (African Union) | 25 Feb. 2005 | (27-28 May 2005) | - |
Acronyms: DRC = Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire); FRY = Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; CFSP = Common Foreign and Security Policy; EC = European Community; EU = European Union;
LAS = League of Arab States; NGF = Non-Governmental Forces; OSCE = Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; UNITA = National Union for the Total Independence of Angola; UNSCR = UN Security Council Resolution.
