UN Security Council unanimously passes resolution establishing a ‘sanctions regime’ to target gangs in crisis-hit Haiti.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved a “sanctions regime” to punish criminal gangs in Haiti and called for an arms embargo on non-state actors as security, economic and health crises deepen in the Caribbean country.
The UNSC on Friday unanimously passed a resolution proposed by the United States and Mexico that sanctioned powerful gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as “Barbecue”. The sanctions include an assets freeze and a travel ban.
“Jimmy Cherizier (AKA ‘Barbeque’) has engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti and has planned, directed, or committed acts that constitute serious human rights abuses,” the resolution reads.
While Cherizier was the only target named in the resolution, the measure establishes a foundation for further sanctions going forward.
“This resolution is an initial answer to the calls for help from the Haitian people,” the US representative at the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the Security Council.
“They want us to take action against criminal actors, including gangs and their financiers, who have been undermining stability and expanding poverty in their vibrant society.”
A former officer of the Haitian National Police (HNP), Cherizier now leads the “G9 Family and Allies” gang alliance. He is accused of various abuses, including the killing of civilians, dating back to his days with the security forces. The UN resolution said his “gang confederation” is playing a leading role in the ongoing blockade of a major fuel terminal in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Thomas-Greenfield also said Washington intends to bring forward another resolution to send non-UN, foreign armed forces to Haiti to help maintain security and enable the flow of “desperately needed” humanitarian aid.
“Now that this council has taken deliberate and decisive action to send a strong signal to the gangs and those who fund them through new targeted sanctions, we must build on these efforts to address another immediate challenge,” she said.
The resolution came as Haiti faced a cholera outbreak that has been worsened due to continuing political and economic upheaval.
