UN Security Council Expands Arms Embargo on Haiti Amid Intensifying Gang Violence
October 18, 2024
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — In a decisive move to stem the surging violence in Haiti, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to broaden the existing arms embargo targeting the beleaguered Caribbean nation. The resolution, introduced by Ecuador and the United States, aims to tighten international restrictions on armaments, halting shipments of “arms and related materiel of all types” into Haiti.
The unanimous decision came on the heels of a devastating gang revolt led by notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, infamous as "Barbecue". Cherizier’s orchestrated revolt in Port-au-Prince had forced the nation into a political upheaval earlier this year, culminating in the resignation of Haiti’s unelected prime minister and the installation of a new transitional council.
The initial sanctions regime, enacted in October 2022, focused solely on small arms and ammunition, specifically targeting Cherizier. The recent expansion marks a significant broadening in scope, as the UN seeks to choke off the supply lines feeding the violence that has plagued the nation. The new resolution also renews for one year the mandate of a committee to oversee the sanctions against specific Haitians.
The security situation in Haiti remains precarious, underscored by the brutal massacre in early October by the Gran Grif gang in Pont Sonde, which claimed the lives of at least 109 people. This gang, along with its leader Luckson Elan—recently added to the UN sanctions list—continues to challenge the fragmented national security apparatus.
US representative Dorothy Shea addressed the Security Council on Friday, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "The United States remains deeply concerned by the security and humanitarian crises in Haiti. Too many people continue to suffer from ongoing violence," Shea stated.
In a bid to bolster the local police forces, Kenya has committed to dispatching 600 additional police officers to Haiti next month. This support mission seeks to augment the national security forces’ capacity without constituting a formal UN peacekeeping mission.
The international community’s intensified focus on Haiti highlights the urgent need for robust measures to curb the escalating gang violence. With the UN’s bolstered embargo and the anticipated boost from Kenyan police forces, Haiti stands on the precipice of concerted international efforts to reclaim stability and peace.
