The UN Security Council has unanimously approved an expansion of its arms embargo on Haiti due to alarming levels of gang violence in the country. The updated embargo will apply to all types of arms and ammunition, as Haiti continues to grapple with multiple crises.
The resolution allows the 193 member states of the UN to take "appropriate steps to prevent the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and related materials in Haiti." Additionally, it extends travel bans and asset freezes for gang members and individuals on the UN's blacklist.
Haiti has experienced years of instability, a situation that has significantly worsened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. This incident created a power vacuum that has strengthened armed gangs, which are now estimated to control up to 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, the capital. This unchecked flow of illegal weapons has contributed to a rise in violent crimes, including rapes, killings, and kidnappings, prompting the emergence of civilian vigilante groups.
Robert Muggah, the author of a UN report on firearms and drug trafficking in Haiti and founder of the Brazil-based Igarape Institute, noted that the United States is the primary source of illegal firearms and ammunition entering Haiti. He reported that over 50 percent of these weapons are handguns, while approximately 37 percent are rifles. Many of the firearms bound for Haiti are acquired by "straw men"—individuals who purchase weapons from licensed dealers while concealing their true intent.
The resolution adopted on Friday also urged the Haitian government to strengthen border controls to combat illicit trafficking. In early October, the Security Council had voted to extend the mandate of a Kenya-led multinational force aimed at assisting the Haitian National Police in their fight against gang violence.
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