The United Nations Security Council has unanimously voted to expand its arms embargo on Haiti due to serious concerns over the escalating gang violence in the country. This expanded embargo will now cover all types of arms and ammunition, as Haiti continues to grapple with a range of challenges.
The resolution authorises the 193 UN member states to take “appropriate steps to prevent the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel in Haiti.”
It also extends existing sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze, on gang members and criminals already listed on the UN blacklist.
Haiti has experienced years of political instability, which intensified after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. His death left a power vacuum that has allowed armed gangs to expand their control. It is estimated that these gangs now dominate up to 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The unchecked flow of illegal weapons into the country has contributed to a surge in violent crimes, including rapes, killings, and kidnappings. This wave of violence has led to the formation of civilian vigilante groups.
Robert Muggah, an expert on Haiti’s arms and drug trafficking and founder of the Igarape Institute, spoke to reporters earlier this year. He identified the United States as the largest source of illegal firearms entering Haiti. “Just over 50 percent of these were handguns and roughly 37 percent consisted of rifles,” he said.
Many of these weapons are purchased by “straw men,” individuals who buy guns legally in the US but conceal that the firearms are meant for someone else.
The UN resolution adopted on Friday also urged the Haitian government to strengthen its border controls to curb illicit arms trafficking.
Additionally, the Security Council voted earlier in October to extend the mandate of the Kenya-led multinational force, which is assisting the Haitian National Police in their fight against the gangs.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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