Haiti II - EP 2

On 2 October 2023, UNSCR 2699 replaced the targeted arms imports embargo on designated individuals and entities with a territorial arms imports embargo to Haiti limited to small arms, light weapons, and ammunition. Arms to be used by the UN, the MSS mission, units under the command of the Government of Haiti, or others to further the objectives of peace and stability in Haiti were exempted from the arms embargo subject to prior Committee approval. The expanded arms embargo, whose imposition was recommended by the Panel of Experts due to violence fueled by continued illicit smuggling of arms into Haiti, was adopted for a limited time period (1 year). The resolution also authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to support the overwhelmed Haitian National Police, which had proved inadequate to deal with the deteriorating situation caused by armed gangs, criminal networks, and self-protection and vigilante movements in Haiti, especially around the capital, Port-au-Prince, and authorized it to “take all necessary measures” to carry out its mandate.

UNSCR 2700, which was adopted on 19 October 2023, extended for a year the travel ban, asset freeze, and arms imports embargo to Haiti and outlined key benchmarks for reviewing arms embargo measures. To help enhance the implementation of the arms embargo, the resolution also called for the inspection of cargo suspected of breaching the arms embargo and encouraged Member States to ensure adequate marking and recordkeeping to trace arms and the Government of Haiti to reinforce the weapons ammunition management of the Haitian National Police. In response to the regional effects of the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, the resolution also called on Member States to protect Haitian refugees and migrants in their territories.

On 8 December 2023, the Haiti Sanctions Committee added the leaders of four other gangs (5 Segond, Grand Ravine, 400 Mawozo, and Kraze Barye) to the list of designees for travel ban and asset freeze, bringing the total number of listed individuals to five. Information about the destabilizing activity of all four new designees was included in the Panel of Expert’s September 2023 report.

Early 2024 was marked by further deteriorating situation in Haiti, with gang violence reaching “unprecedented levels and geographic spread” according to the Panel of Experts and January 2024 representing “the most violent month in two years.” Internally, the G9 coalition of gangs led by the sanctioned Jimmy Cherizier (AKA “Barbeque”) and the Kraze Barye gang led by sanctioned Vitelhomme Innocent fractured, while the G-Pèp coalition continued to expand its influence. This expansion included the Grand Ravine and 5 Segond gangs, as well as the 400 Mawozo gang, whose leaders were sanctioned in December 2023. According to the Panel of Experts, all sanctioned gang leaders continued to “engage in intense armed violence in spite of their designation” and gangs and other non-state armed groups continued to “procure arms and ammunition illicitly.” In late February 2024, Cherizier claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks on the airport, government institutions, and police stations, and two main opposing gang coalitions (G9, led by Cherizier, and G-Pèp, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre) reactivated their Viv Ensanm alliance to pursue a joint front against the government. The alliance subsequently began conducting coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure, including a jail break of around 4,000 inmates from Haiti’s overcrowded prisons in early March, to put pressure on Prime Minister Henry to resign. Amid the decreasing number of police officers and increasing territorial operation of gangs in Haiti, the Panel noted in March 2024 that the deployment of the MSS mission became “critical and urgent.” The Security Council expressed its concern about the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti and its hope for the speedy deployment of the MSS mission on 11 March 2024 (SC/15620).

To address the political situation in Haiti, CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group on Haiti proposed a draft framework agreement for a new 18-month electoral transition period in November 2023. The December 2023 talks between the Government and the opposition (including the Montana Group) yielded limited progress and the stalled political transition sparked popular protests ahead of the 7 February 2024 deadline for a newly elected government to take office set by the 2022 “21 December Accord”. Some of the protests were led by Guy Philippe, who led the 2004 coup against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and was repatriated to Haiti from the US in November 2023. Philippe also received support by the Viv Ensanm gang coalition.

A breakthrough in the political discussions was announced on 11 March 2024, following the surge in attacks claimed by Cherizier, when a CARICOM-mediated agreement was reached among different Haitian political actors on the formation of a Transitional Presidential Council (TPC), appointment of a new Prime Minister, and organization of the delayed elections. Ariel Henry announced his intent to resign the following day, effective upon the appointment of his successor by the TPC. Concerned about “the illicit flow of arms and ammunition into Haiti that remains a fundamental factor of instability and violence,” the Security Council expressed support for “a Haitian-led, Haitian-owned political process” on 21 March 2024 (SC/15636). The 9-member TPC was formally installed on 25 April 2024, following the formal resignation of Prime Minister Henry. With a vote of 6-to-1, the TPC nominated Garry Conille as Prime Minister on 27 May 2024, taking over from the interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert. Conille became the acting Prime Minister of Haiti on 3 June 2024. New government ministers were appointed on 12 June 2024. The 22-month transitional period was set to terminate with the swearing-in of a new President in February 2026, following a democratic election. Marred by corruption allegations against three of its members, the TPC continued to steer the political transition, including through nominating most members of the Provisional Electoral Council in September 2024. The Viv Ensanm gang alliance, including its spokesperson Cherizier, sought dialogue with the new government, despite continued attacks on Haitian police and critical infrastructure.

Authorized in UNSCR 2699 (2 October 2023), the first contingent of the MSS mission arrived in Haiti only on 25 June 2024. The deployment of the mission by Kenya was delayed due to domestic opposition within Kenya, hold up in the release of funds by the US (the largest donor to the MSS), and the political changes in Haiti. Besides Kenya, a number of other African and Caribbean countries formally notified the UN Secretary-General of their intention to contribute personnel to the MSS. Despite persistent challenges and limited deployment of MSS (only around 400 police officers), the Haitian police and the MSS achieved some successes following the launch of large-scale anti-gang operations in several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince.

On 27 September 2024, the Sanctions Committee listed the leader of the Gran Grif gang, as well as a former member of the Haitian Parliament involved in weapons trafficking and using violence to secure political gain. The latter sanctions designation was the first targeting a politician supporting and benefiting from gang activities rather than a gang leader.

Overall, the humanitarian and security situation in Haiti remained dire, despite a decrease in gang violence from the levels reported in early 2024. According to the September 2024 Panel of Experts report, gangs controlled about 85% of the capital and actively continued to undermine the political transition in Haiti (S/2024/704). 5 Segond and Grand Ravine were the strongest among the gangs whose leaders were sanctioned and 400 Mawozo strengthened, while Cherizier “lost considerable influence” over the G9 coalition and the Kraze Barye gang was weakened by infighting and police operations. Indiscriminate attacks against the population continued, including a violent massacre by the newly listed Gran Grif gang that left more than 100 dead, as did recruitment of children, which could represent “up to” 50% of all gang members. The report also noted that “arms trafficking continued unabated” despite the strengthened arms embargo. With gangs increasingly procuring larger caliber weapons, which posed more serious challenge to the police and the MSS mission, the Panel recommended to replace the small arms and light weapons embargo with a general arms embargo targeting all arms and related materiel.

Ongoing travel ban against individuals and asset freeze against individuals or entities engaging in violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses.

Existing targeted arms imports embargo on designated individuals / entities replaced with a territorial arms imports embargo to Haiti on small arms, light weapons, and ammunition (with conditional Government exemptions) at the start of the episode.