Can't read it? Listen now!
The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted on Friday to expand the arms embargo on Haiti, as the Caribbean nation continues to face escalating gang violence and a fragile security situation. All 15 members of the Council supported the resolution, which was drafted by Ecuador and the United States. The expanded embargo now prohibits the shipment of “arms and related materiel of all types” into Haiti, broadening a previous ban that only restricted small arms and ammunition.
The decision comes as Haiti struggles to regain control from powerful gangs that have seized large parts of the country. The resolution also extends the mandate of a U.N. committee responsible for monitoring sanctions against specific individuals, including gang leaders. These sanctions will remain in place for another year, reflecting the ongoing instability.
Haiti’s security crisis has worsened since a wave of gang violence erupted in February 2024, led by notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as “Barbecue.” Cherizier had been the primary target of a U.N. sanctions regime imposed in October 2022. His coordinated revolt in the capital, Port-au-Prince, resulted in the resignation of the country’s unelected prime minister, leading to the establishment of a transitional government.
Despite the installation of an interim prime minister and the deployment of a Kenyan-led multinational force to support Haiti’s beleaguered police, gangs continue to exercise significant control. In early October, the Gran Grif gang carried out a brutal attack in the town of Pont Sonde, leaving at least 109 people dead and many more injured. The gang’s leader, Luckson Elan, had been added to the U.N. sanctions list shortly before the massacre, which is considered one of the worst incidents in Haiti’s recent history.
Friday’s resolution reflects the U.N.’s acknowledgment of the deepening crisis in Haiti. U.S. representative Dorothy Shea addressed the Council, expressing ongoing concern over 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.
As part of broader international efforts to stabilize the country, Kenya has committed to sending an additional 600 police officers in November. These reinforcements will join the multinational force already deployed in Haiti, tasked with bolstering the country’s police efforts to curb gang control. Notably, this mission is not a U.N. peacekeeping operation, but a separate initiative approved by the Security Council in 2023.
