Central African Republic

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Central African Republic, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Central African Republic, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Central African Republic. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Central African Republic at 26 out of 100 (149th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e. corrupt). 

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.   

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) ANNOUNCED JULY 10 THAT THEY WOULD ALLOW A LIMITED RESUMPTION OF INTERNATONAL FLIGHTS INTO AND FROM FANGUI-M'POKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BGF). INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES MAY OPERATE ONE FLIGHT PER WEEK. TRAVELERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO STRINGENT HEALTH MEASURES, INCLUDING MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING, TEMPERATURE CHECKS, AND DISINFECTANT PROCEDURES, AND WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO THEIR HEALTH. PERSONS ENTERING CAR FROM LOCATIONS WITH LOCAL TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 ARE REQUIRED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS.  SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES, INCLUDING THE MANDATORY USE OF FACEMASKS IN PUBLIC, AND NON-CONTACT GREETINGS FOR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS ARE BEING ENFORCED IN BANGUI. AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO ENFORCING LIMITATIONS ON THE SIZE OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A DO NOT TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 12, 2019 DUE TO CRIME,CIVIL UNREST AND KIDNAPPING. TRAVELERS TO CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ARE URGED IN THE STRONGEST TERMS TO CONTACT RISK SERVICES AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO MAXIMIZE PERSONAL SAFETY.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

Violent crime, such as armed robbery, aggravated battery, and homicide, is common.

Large areas of the country are controlled by armed groups who regularly kidnap, injure, and/or kill civilians. In the event of unrest, airport, land border, and road closures may occur with little or no notice.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Central African Republic as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside the Embassy compound.

Visit the U.S. Department of State website for Travel to High-Risk Areas

Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws and penalties. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.  Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon immediately. 

Identification: Local law requires passports to be carried on your person at all times. Failure to produce your passport may result in detention and/or a fine.

Drugs: Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the CAR are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Photography: Taking photographs of police or military installations, airports, or any other government buildings is prohibited. Unauthorized photography may result in the seizure of photographic equipment by the CAR authorities. Police or other government authorities can provide information and grant permission for photographing a particular subject or location.  Locals in the CAR may be very sensitive to all photography; you should obtain permission first.

LGBTI Travelers: The penalty for "public expression of love" between persons of the same sex is imprisonment for six months to two years or a fine. When one of the participants is underage, the adult may be sentenced to two to five years imprisonment or a fine.