The United Nations Security Council prolonged its sanctions regime on Haiti for a year, currently targeting only one individual. This individual, Jimmy Cherizier, known as “Barbecue,” is a former police officer turned leader of the G9 Alliance and one of Haiti’s prominent gang figures. In response to the slow pace, both Haiti and China urged the sanctions committee to accelerate its efforts and meet the resolution’s requirements.
China’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Geng Shuang emphasized the necessity of altering the designated list beyond a single person swiftly. Shuang further called upon all countries, especially regional states, to take concrete measures to curtail the illicit influx of small arms and light weapons into Haiti, thereby cutting off the gangs’ access to weaponry. The issue of illegal firearms flooding the Caribbean region has drawn attention, with many Caribbean leaders pointing to the United States as a source.
Haitian gangs have reportedly amassed significant weaponry, including machine guns and assault rifles, posing a severe threat to both the residents caught in the crossfire and the country’s already under-resourced police force. In response, the U.N. recently authorized the deployment of a multinational force to assist the police, as requested by Haiti’s unelected government a year ago. Additionally, the arms embargo was extended to encompass all gangs in the nation.
While Haiti’s U.N. Ambassador Antonio Rodrigue commended the decision, he emphasized the need for proactive efforts to combat arms trafficking. He urged the U.N. to take action on the resolutions it has passed, particularly in publishing the list of the main individuals responsible for exacerbating the security crisis in Haiti. Rodrigue stressed the urgency of transitioning to an active phase, with the effectiveness of the work evaluated based on specific results achieved on the ground.
