(United Nations) The UN Security Council on Monday said it was “very concerned” about the deterioration of the situation in Haiti, plagued by gang violence, but simply took “note” of the Secretary’s repeated appeal general to send an international force.
“The members of the Security Council are very concerned about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti,” they said in a statement released Monday.
They “condemn in the strongest terms the increase in violence, criminal activities and human rights violations that undermine peace, stability and security for Haiti and the region”.
Citing in particular kidnappings, sexual violence, human trafficking, extra-judicial executions and recruitment of children into armed groups, the Council calls for “those responsible for these heinous crimes to be brought to justice”.
He also points to his own role in the sanctions regime introduced in October to target gang leaders. But these sanctions only target one person, Jimmy Cherizier, nicknamed “Barbecue”.
In this context, members of the Security Council “take note” of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ latest report in which he repeated his call to send a specialized international, but non-UN, armed force to help the overwhelmed police to restore order. .
“Mindful of the need for security support”, they again call on “all political actors to engage in constructive and meaningful negotiations to enable the organization of inclusive, free and fair legislative and presidential elections, as soon as the conditions will be fulfilled”.
While no election has been held since 2016 and Prime Minister Ariel Henry, appointed only 48 hours before the assassination of the last President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, faces questions about his legitimacy, some experts say it is impossible to hold elections under such secure conditions.
But more than six months after the call for help from the Prime Minister, relayed by Antonio Guterres, no country has volunteered to lead an international force in Haiti.
Last month, the new UN envoy for Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, said that it might be time for the UN to be “innovative”, in particular referring to an intervention force that could be made up of police, not soldiers.
The Security Council also expressed concern on Monday about arms trafficking to Haiti which “fuels” gang violence, and stressed the “urgent need to prohibit the transfer of arms” to “non-actors”. state actors engaged in or supporting gang violence, criminal activity or human rights abuses” in the country.
