Panama and the United States drafted the resolution, which also renews the mandate of the panel of experts that supports the sanctions committee.
It comes just weeks after the Council authorized a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti to replace the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) that has been supporting the national police in their efforts to combat violence.
“These measures will restore security to Haiti and bring gangs to their knees,” the US representative said.
Designation Annex
Resolution 2794 (2025) expresses serious concern about “the extremely high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities”, such as kidnappings, homicides, human trafficking, homicides and sexual violence, as well as persistent impunity.
In an annex, the Council also designated two individuals who “have participated in acts that threaten the peace, security and stability of Haiti.”
Dimitri Herard, former head of the security unit for assassinated former president Jovenel Moïse, has supported the Ti Bwa gang in addition to being involved “in facilitating the trafficking of weapons and ammunition, which has fueled gang violence and destabilized the country.”
Kempes Sanon is the leader of the Bel Air gang that “has been involved in systematic human rights violations, including extortion, kidnappings and illicit taxes.”
The U.S. representative said his designation complements action taken by Washington earlier that day regarding the two men.
“While we applaud the Council for appointing these individuals, the list is not complete. There are more enablers of Haiti’s insecurity who evade accountability.”
‘Remove fuel’
Panama’s representative said that effective implementation of the arms embargo is crucial in efforts to “eliminate once and for all the fuel that is fueling this conflict.”
He added that “there is a symbiotic relationship between certain sectors of the economic and political elite and the gangs.”
Regarding the annex, he regretted that “there has been no consensus to include people who meet the criteria of those who are causing so much damage to Haitian society.”
He expressed hope that the renewal of sanctions, along with other efforts by the United Nations Support Office in Haiti and the GSF, “will allow us to achieve a gun-free, safer and more peaceful Haiti.”
Deterrence and justice
The representative of Haiti stated that the sanctions regime can be “an effective instrument of deterrence and justice, if properly applied and respected by all Member States.”
It serves as “a complementary pillar” of the Multinational Security Support Mission, which recently became the GSF.
He said so far the results of efforts to quell the violence have been mixed, as gangs continue to receive heavy weapons and ammunition from abroad.
He further stated that the Haitian Government has taken note of the names of the people in the annex and their cases will be dealt with in accordance with national legislation.