US Welcomes UN Security Council Renewal of Arms Embargo on Haiti

WASHINGTON, DC – The Joe Biden administration in the United States has welcomed the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous adoption of resolution 2700 that renews an arms embargo on Haiti to prevent the supply of weapons to non-state actors, as well as a targeted assets freeze and travel ban measures.

Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that, since October 2022, the United States has taken steps to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on over 50 individuals for “undermining Haiti’s democratic processes, supporting or financing gangs and criminal organizations, or engaging in significant corruption and human rights violations.” 

In addition, Miller said the United States continues to take steps to stem the illegal outflow of firearms from the US to the Caribbean, including Haiti. 

“The US Government is using new criminal authorities in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to identify and hold firearms traffickers accountable,” he said. 

To bolster these efforts, he noted that, in June 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of retired Jamaican economist Donald Harris, announced the creation of a Department of Justice Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions, including Haiti. 

Miller said the Department of State is also supporting the regional Crime Gun Intelligence Unit in Trinidad and Tobago to help Caribbean partner nations solve gun-related crime cases, deter gun crimes in the region and bring criminals to justice. 

He also said the State Department is partnering with US Homeland Security Investigations to create a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit within Haiti “to facilitate investigations and prosecution of transnational crimes, including those with a US nexus. 

“This new unit will focus on crimes including firearms and ammunition smuggling, human trafficking and transnational gang activity,” Miller said. “We will continue to use all available tools to promote accountability for corrupt actors, individuals supporting gang violence and other criminal activity in Haiti. 

“The United States remains committed to promoting peace and prosperity for the people of Haiti,” he added. 

On Friday, the UN Security Council authorized the renewal for one year of the sanctions regime on Haiti, continuing a targeted arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze established in October 2022 “to address the widespread violence, criminal activity and human rights abuses plaguing the country.” 

The UN said the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, unanimously adopted resolution 2700 (2023), “demanded an immediate cessation of kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, homicides, extrajudicial killings and recruitment of children by armed groups and criminal networks. 

“Those designated for sanctions have been deemed directly or indirectly responsible for or complicit in actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of the country,” the UN said. 

It said the resolution directs the Security Council Committee on Haiti to update the list of designated individuals and entities “swiftly, taking into account reports submitted by the Panel of Experts on Haiti, put in place by resolution 2653 (2022) that established the sanctions regime and the Committee to monitor and assist with compliance.” 

By the text, the Council reaffirmed that all member states shall take the necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer to Haiti of small arms, light weapons and ammunition, as well as taking steps to stop their illicit trafficking and diversion.  

It also urged the Government of Haiti to reinforce the weapons and ammunition management capacity of the Haitian National Police. 

Additionally, the Council called on the Multinational Security Support Mission, recently authorized by resolution 2699 (2023), “to implement weapons and ammunition management processes and oversight mechanisms for their own arms and to cooperate with the Government of Haiti to reinforce its own such management.” 

The resolution extended, for a period of 13 months, the mandate of the Panel of Experts, adding to the mandate the measures in Friday’s resolution.  

It requested the Panel to provide the Council, after discussion with the Committee, with an interim report by March 29, 2024, and a final report no later than October 1, 2024.  

The resolution also asked for the UN Secretary-General to conduct an assessment of progress on key benchmarks, including development of judicial and rule of law capacity, reduction in violence by armed groups and criminal networks, and a decrease in illicit trafficking of arms, by the latter date. 

Following the adoption, the UN said speakers expressed concern for the security situation in Haiti and said that coordination of the Council’s separate actions to address the crisis was needed. 

Haiti’s representative expressed gratitude to Council members for their ongoing efforts to keep the situation in the French-speaking Caribbean country on the international agenda. 

“The resolution adopted today and resolution 2699 (2023) adopted a few days ago authorizing the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti are complementary and show the Council’s determination to contribute effectively to the establishment of a security climate in Haiti that can facilitate the organization of democratic elections, which should lead to the restoration of State institutions,” Antonio Rodrigue said.  

“By renewing the sanctions regime, the Council is sending a clear and strong signal to those people and entities that contribute to the deterioration of the security situation in the country,” he added. 

Noting the Council’s attention to the illicit arms trade, Rodrigue urged Member States to be more proactive in combating that issue.  

He said sanctions are one of the most robust responses the Council has available to it to address threats to international peace and security, and help to calm the sociopolitical climate in Haiti.

The Haitian envoy said his delegation looks forward to the publication of the list of main protagonists who are linked to the worsening security situation in his country. 

“The international community is making positive and qualitative progress by setting up mechanisms that can help better tackle the Haitian crisis,” said Rodrigue, stressing the need now to move to the effective application of the resolutions adopted on Haiti.  

“The Security Council’s work will be judged in the light of specific results obtained on the ground: The security situation of the country and the quality of life of its people,” he said.