The sanctions regime was established in 2022 and includes a travel ban, an assets freeze and an arms embargo.
Panama and the United States authored the resolution, which also renews the mandate of the group of experts that supports the sanctions committee.
This comes just a few weeks after the Council allowed a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti to replace the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS), which supports the national police in their efforts to combat violence.
“These measures will restore security to Haiti and bring the gangs to their knees,” the US representative said.
Designation annex
Resolution 2794 (2025) expresses deep concern over “extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities,” such as kidnappings, homicides, human trafficking, homicides and sexual violence, as well as persistent impunity.
In an annex, the Council also designated two individuals who “engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti.”
Dimitri Hérard, former head of assassinated ex-president Jovenel Moïse’s security unit, supported the Ti Bwa gang in addition to being involved “in the facilitation of arms and ammunition trafficking, which fueled gang violence and destabilized the country.”
Kempes Sanon is the leader of the Bel Air gang which “has been implicated in systematic human rights violations, including extortion, kidnapping and illicit taxes.”
The US representative said the designation complements actions taken by Washington earlier in the day regarding the two men.
“While we applaud the Council for designating these individuals, the list is not complete. There are other factors contributing to insecurity in Haiti that escape accountability.”
‘Remove fuel’
Panama’s representative said effective implementation of the arms embargo is crucial to “eliminate once and for all the fuel that fuels this conflict.”
He added that “there is a symbiotic relationship between certain sectors of the economic and political elite and the gangs.”
Concerning the annex, he regretted that “there was no consensus to include people who meet the criteria of those who cause so much damage to Haitian society.”
He expressed hope that the renewal of sanctions, as well as other efforts of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti and the GSF “will allow us to create a Haiti without weapons, more secure and at peace.”
Deterrence and justice
Haiti’s representative said the sanctions regime can be “an effective instrument of deterrence and justice, if properly applied and respected by all Member States.”
It constitutes “a complementary pillar” to the Multinational Security Support Mission, recently transformed into the GSF.
He said that so far the results of efforts to quell the violence have been mixed, as gangs continue to receive heavy weapons and ammunition from abroad.
He further stated that the Haitian Government noted the names of the individuals in the annex and that their cases will be handled in accordance with national legislation.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
