The mandatory UN embargo against Iraq was modified on 8 June 2004 to allow the delivery of arms and related materiel to the Iraqi Government and to the Multinational Force operating in Iraq. The embargo remained in force for supplies to other recipients, such as rebel forces, in Iraq.
On 30 July 2004 the UN Security Council established an arms embargo against 'non-governmental entities and individuals, including the Janjaweed' in the Darfur region in the west of Sudan. This was a reaction on the atrocities carried out since 2003 mainly by Arab militia (of which the Janjaweed was the main group), with the support of the Sudanese government and armed forces, against non-Arab groups in Darfur.
After government forces broke a ceasefire established in 2003 and attacked rebel forces and French peacekeepers, the UN Security Council established a 13-month arms embargo against Cote d'Ivoire on 15 November 2004.
On 9 January 2004 the EU modified its embargo (dating from March 1994) against Sudan, expanding it to include financing and brokering by EU nationals of arms sales (from non-EU suppliers) as well as military technical advice, assistance and support. The prohibition on brokering came at a time when British (EU nationals) and Central and East European nationals (from countries set to join the EU in May 2004) were involved as middlemen in the supply of weapons from Ukraine to Sudan.
On 23 July 2004 the EU lifted its embargo against Iraq.
The EU lifted its embargo against Libya on 11 October 2004 , partly to allow Libya to acquire equipment for border patrol and maritime surveillance from EU members. Such equipment would be useful to control and reduce the flow of illegal immigrants entering the EU through the Mediterranean.