The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has taken decisive action on Haiti’s mounting crisis, unanimously renewing its sanctions regime for another year in an effort to stem the tide of gang violence and political instability that has gripped the Caribbean nation. The move, formalized through Resolution 2794 (2025) on October 17 and 18, 2025, underscores the international community’s deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Haiti, where criminal gangs wield growing influence and the rule of law hangs by a thread.
The renewed sanctions, first imposed in 2022, include a travel ban, asset freeze, and a comprehensive arms embargo. These measures target individuals and entities accused of fueling violence, trafficking arms, and destabilizing the country. According to the United Nations, the embargo—which was initially limited—now covers all arms transfers to Haiti, save for tightly controlled shipments destined for local law enforcement and international peacekeeping forces.
Panama and the United States led the drafting of the resolution, which also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the sanctions committee for another 13 months. The Security Council’s action comes just weeks after it authorized the creation of a new Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to replace the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission, signaling a shift in the international approach to restoring security in Haiti.
“These measures will restore security in Haiti and bring gangs to their knees,” the US representative declared, as quoted by the UN. The Council’s resolution expresses “grave concern over the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities,” including kidnappings, homicides, trafficking in persons, and sexual violence, as well as the climate of impunity that allows such crimes to flourish.
The humanitarian and social costs of the violence are staggering. The Security Council warned that ongoing gang activity undermines the rule of law, threatens human rights, and hinders the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid. The consequences, the Council noted, could be severe, affecting Haiti’s social fabric and economic stability.
In a pointed annex to the resolution, the UNSC designated two individuals for sanctions: Dimitri Herard, the former head of assassinated ex-President Jovenel Moïse’s security unit, and Kempes Sanon, a notorious gang leader. Herard is accused of supporting the Ti Bwa gang and facilitating the trafficking of arms and ammunition that have stoked the flames of violence. Sanon, meanwhile, is identified as the leader of the Bel Air gang, implicated in systematic human rights violations such as extortion, kidnappings, and illicit taxation.
The United States moved in lockstep with the UN, announcing parallel sanctions against Herard and Sanon on October 17, 2025. The two men join nine other sanctioned individuals and two criminal organizations, including the infamous “G9 an Fanmi” alliance led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, already listed by the UN. “While we applaud the Council for designating these individuals, the list is not complete,” the US representative cautioned, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. “There are more enablers of Haiti’s insecurity evading accountability.”
Panama’s representative stressed that effective implementation of the arms embargo is essential if the international community hopes to “once and for all remove the fuel that is firing this conflict.” He pointed to the “symbiotic relationship between certain economic and political elite sectors and the gangs,” warning that unless the flow of weapons is stopped, Haiti’s cycle of violence will persist. Regretting that consensus could not be reached to include additional names in the annex, Panama expressed hope that the renewed sanctions, along with efforts by the UN Support Office and the GSF, “will enable us to bring about a Haiti free of weapons, safer and in peace.”
Haiti’s representative to the UN welcomed the renewal, describing the sanctions regime as “an effective instrument of deterrence and of justice, if it is properly applied and respected by all Member States.” He characterized the measures as a “complementary pillar” to the Multinational Security Support Mission, now succeeded by the GSF. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that the results have been mixed, with gangs still managing to receive heavy weapons and ammunition from abroad. The Haitian government, he noted, has taken careful note of the individuals named in the annex and will handle their cases in accordance with national law.
The resolution’s adoption has not been without criticism or caveats from Council members. Several countries—including France, Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, and the UK—regretted that the text did not explicitly address sexual and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affects women and girls in Haiti. They called for future resolutions to prioritize these human rights concerns. China’s representative urged the Council to consider more detailed and verifiable measures to regulate weapons and ammunition, emphasizing the need for effective enforcement. Pakistan advocated for sanctions to be “judiciously applied,” targeting delinquent individuals without harming the general populace, while Russia warned that sanctions should not fundamentally alter Haiti’s political landscape.
The Security Council’s resolution also underscores the importance of international cooperation. Member States are urged to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and related materials, strengthen border controls, and support Haitian authorities in managing weapons and ammunition. This collective approach, the Council maintains, is essential to promoting peace and stability in Haiti.
The context for these measures is grim. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has long been plagued by entrenched criminal activity and political turmoil. The situation took a dramatic turn for the worse in early 2024 when coordinated gang assaults forced then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign, plunging the country into even deeper uncertainty. Killings, looting, and kidnappings have become daily realities for many Haitians, with criminal groups operating with near impunity.
The renewed sanctions regime, along with the deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, represents the latest in a series of international efforts to break the grip of armed gangs and restore a measure of stability to Haiti. Yet, as many Council members and observers have noted, the path forward is fraught with challenges. The effectiveness of the arms embargo and other sanctions will depend not only on their rigorous enforcement but also on the willingness of all stakeholders—including national, regional, and international actors—to cooperate in good faith.
As the UN Security Council reaffirms its commitment to combating gang violence, curbing arms trafficking, and upholding Haitian sovereignty, the people of Haiti continue to wait for the day when peace and the rule of law are more than distant hopes. The world’s eyes remain fixed on Haiti, watching to see whether these latest measures will finally turn the tide against chaos and bring a measure of security to a nation in desperate need.
