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The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on 18 October on a draft resolution that would extend the current sanctions regime on Haiti for an additional year, through 18 October 2025. This resolution was co-authored by Ecuador and the United States, the designated co-penholders on Haiti within the Council. The vote follows ongoing concerns over Haiti’s escalating security situation, driven in part by illicit arms trafficking and gang violence.
Background on the sanctions regime
The existing sanctions were first established in October 2022 under Resolution 2653 in response to Haiti’s multidimensional crisis. These sanctions included targeted measures such as an asset freeze, travel ban, and an arms embargo. The scope of the arms embargo was later expanded in October 2023 by Resolution 2699 to cover the entire country rather than focusing on designated individuals. A recent report by the 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts highlighted that the arms embargo remains ineffective in halting the flow of illicit weapons into the country.
Additional reports from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have detailed the routes of arms smuggling into Haiti, with weapons primarily being trafficked by sea from the United States, through Florida, and secondarily through neighboring countries such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
Negotiations and key provisions in the draft resolution
Discussions on renewing the sanctions regime appear to have been mostly smooth among Council members. The draft resolution was first circulated on 3 October, followed by revisions after feedback from member states such as China and Russia. One notable change in the draft is an expansion of the arms embargo to include all types of arms and related materials, extending beyond small arms and light weapons.
The draft resolution also addresses new concerns, such as the illicit exploitation of natural resources, particularly illegal eel trafficking from Haiti. Other provisions include improved coordination between the UN sanctions bodies and stakeholders, and a focus on protecting children from the ongoing violence in Haiti.
While negotiations were generally smooth, there were disagreements over a proposal from China, which sought to require member states to submit reports on actions taken to enforce the sanctions. Other members resisted this requirement, citing concerns over the burden it could impose on countries without direct involvement in the arms trade.
If approved, the resolution would extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts overseeing Haiti’s sanctions by an additional 13 months.
