UN Security Council renews Haiti sanctions, targets gang leaders and traffickers

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously renewed the sanctions regime on Haiti for one year, adopting Resolution 2794 (2025). The measures include a travel ban, asset freeze, and arms embargo targeting individuals and entities involved in destabilizing activities, including the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources.

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The resolution also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Council Committee on Haiti for 13 months and specifically adds Dimitri Herard and Kempes Sanon to the sanctions list. According to the U.S. representative, Herard “has played a key role in enabling the activities of criminal networks and gangs in Haiti,” while Sanon “has played a significant role in consolidating gang power in Port-au-Prince.”

The Council stressed that Member States must prevent illicit trafficking of arms and related material, strengthen border controls, and support Haitian authorities in managing weapons and ammunition. Representatives emphasized the sanctions as part of a broader effort to promote peace and stability, while calling for cooperation among national, regional, and international actors.

Several members, including France, Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, and the UK, expressed regret that the resolution did not explicitly reference sexual and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affects women and girls in Haiti. They urged that future renewals address these human rights concerns.

China’s representative called for more detailed and verifiable measures to ensure effective regulation of weapons and ammunition, while Pakistan highlighted that sanctions should be judiciously applied, targeting delinquent individuals without harming the general populace. Russia stressed that sanctions should not fundamentally alter Haiti’s political landscape.

Haiti’s representative welcomed the renewed regime, describing it as a deterrent mechanism against armed gangs and their enablers. He also noted that the sanctions complement the Gang Suppression Force, which took over from the Multinational Security Support mission under UNSC Resolution 2793 (2025), and confirmed that cases of listed individuals will be handled according to national law.

The resolution underscores the UNSC’s ongoing commitment to combating gang violence, curbing arms trafficking, and supporting Haitian sovereignty and stability amid persistent security challenges.