UNITED NATIONS, CMC – The United Nations Security Council has renewed sanctions on Haiti, which include an arms embargo, a travel ban, and an asset freeze, amid ongoing violence from armed gangs that have created a significant security crisis in the Caribbean nation.
According to the UN, gangs have gained control over large portions of Port-au-Prince and are expanding their influence into rural areas. These groups have been implicated in serious crimes, including murders, sexual assaults, kidnappings for ransom, and extortion against both individuals and businesses.
As a result of this violence, approximately 1.5 million people, around 12 percent of Haiti’s population, have been displaced from their homes. The UN reported that while Haiti does not produce firearms or ammunition, it appears that gangs continuously acquire them.
The renewed sanctions are meant to target individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten Haiti’s peace and stability. Currently, sanctions affect nine individuals and two entities. The Security Council also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Haiti for an additional 13 months.
The sanctions include measures that specifically address the trafficking of weapons and ammunition to armed groups, while the travel ban and asset freeze apply to those designated under the sanctions. The UN stated that the arms embargo is frequently violated, echoing concerns expressed by the Panel of Experts, which has found evidence of munitions traceable to national stockpiles.
Reports indicate that between October last year and April this year, over 3,000 people were killed, and more than 1,500 injured, due to gang violence. Additionally, a partner organization revealed that from January to May, more than 2,400 survivors of sexual violence were treated in Port-au-Prince, with a significant number being minors.
Haitian authorities have made efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons, and U.S. authorities have seized firearms intended for Haiti, initiating trafficking investigations. However, a reported estimate suggests that between 270,000 and 500,000 illegal weapons remain in circulation within the country.
The UN has noted challenges in enforcing the sanctions, particularly in relation to the asset freeze, which has reportedly been ineffective, with only two individuals’ accounts frozen, often involving minimal amounts due to delays in bank responses and efforts to conceal funds.
During the Security Council meeting, several representatives emphasized the critical need to disrupt gang financing and hold the supporting networks accountable. While Haiti welcomed the renewal of the sanctions, officials acknowledged that such measures alone cannot restore security in the country.
The situation in Haiti remains dire, with the UN warning that without addressing the underlying support systems for gangs, targeting gang leaders would not yield substantial improvements in the country’s security conditions.
