Haiti sanctions renewed: Starving the gangs of bullets

Haiti is living through one of the world’s most acute security crises. Armed gangs control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are pushing into rural areas, terrorising communities, killing people, committing rape and other sexual assaults, kidnapping for ransom and extorting individuals and businesses.About 1.5 million people, roughly 12 per cent of the population, have been forced from their homes.Haiti makes no guns or ammunition of its own, yet the gangs never seem to run out.On Wednesday, the UN Security Council renewed sanctions meant to change that by targeting people considered responsible for or involved in activities threatening Haiti’s peace, security and stability.What are the sanctions?Created in 2022 by the Security Council, the Haiti sanctions committee has three main enforcement tools at its disposal: an arms embargo, a travel ban and an asset freeze.The embargo targets weapons and ammunition reaching armed groups. The travel ban and freeze apply to named people and entities who contribute to the Caribbean island nation’s insecurity and gang violence.Nine individuals and two groups are currently sanctioned by the council.Why are they needed?The human cos...