Description: The UN Security Council and the US Treasury Department have imposed sanctions on two individuals central to the gang violence in Haiti and renewed the country’s arms proliferation embargo. Dimitri Herard, former head of presidential security for the assassinated President Jovenal Moise, was sanctioned for his collusion with the Viv Ansanm gang coalition and previous suspicions of his involvement in the assassination of the former President. Kempes Sanon, part of the Bel Air gang which is also allied with Viv Ansanm was sanctioned on extortion, kidnapping, illicit financing and taxation and human rights violations. The arms proliferation embargo was also reinstated, however, it has so far given limited results with more than 500 thousand illegal weapons still in circulation in Haiti. Panama and the US recently managed to push an initiative to enlarge the Kenyan – led security mission with the expansion of the expected 5 thousand additional troops as part of a larger Gang Suppression Force (GSF).
Impact: The combination of US and UN sanctions are a formal reprimand with no concrete repercussions which is illustrated through the UN’s report on arms proliferation in the country. The gangs have managed to find alternative ways to circumvent the sanctions and have diversified their methods of illegally obtaining financial gains through kidnappings, extortion and increased arms proliferation mostly through the Dominican Republic and the US. The GSF is yet to be established and dispatched to combat the gang war in Haiti which enables Viv Ansanm as the largest coalition of gangs in the country time and space to expand its presence and enhance its influence in other parts of the country. Faced with the threat of the GSF and under increased pressure from the sanctions, the gangs could intensify attacks and criminal operations further aggravating the security and humanitarian situation in the country.