lcq
AH elite
ICQ, in many cases (about 75% of the time in my experience), you need Canada Customs to sign the export permit upon your return to Canada, certifying that the rifle and others controlled goods have come back to Canada. In one case I got the signature, but forgot to send it to DFAIT in Ottawa. Some months later I received a request to provide the evidence of return in order to close out the permit.
I wouldn't want to have left the firearm in Africa, and I'd suggest that to do so is a violation of the permit and the law in Canada. Do it once, get caught, and you won't be exporting anything to Africa!
DFAIT issues the export permit and American customs inspect the gun leaving Canada. When I arrived in Montreal last year customs just verified the serial number and sent me on my way. No signature was offered or required and I wasn't asked to send in any paperwork to DEFAIT