Wed. Dec 18th, 2024

Haiti: EU sanctions three individuals involved in escalating gang violence

Dec 17, 2024 , ,

Today the Council adopted restrictive measures against three Haitian individuals in view of the escalating gang violence, unremitting serious human rights abuses committed by the gangs in the country, and the continuing impunity for the perpetrators.

Today’s listings include Jonel Catel, leader of the Terre Noir gang which is affiliated with the G9 coalition of gangs in Haiti, Gabriel Jean-Pierre, leader of GPep coalition of gangs, and Ferdens Tilus, leader of Kokorat San Ras Gang.

They have engaged in criminal activities and violence in Haiti involving armed groups and criminal networks that promote violence, including robbery, ransoming, kidnapping, extortion, murders and rape.

Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. In addition, they are subject to a travel ban to the EU.

In its conclusions of 17 October 2024, the European Council stated it remained extremely concerned about the situation in Haiti. It called for the full deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and restore the rule of law. The European Council also called for new targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violence, with the objective of helping to restore peace, security, stability, democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.

The EU is ready to consider additional measures in response to the continuing violence affecting the country.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Background

On 21 October 2022, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2653 (2022), which established a sanctions regime on Haiti, including targeted assets freeze, travel restrictions and arms embargo measures. On 25 November 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/2319 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Haiti implementing that UNSC Resolution.

On 28 July 2023, the Council amended its sanctions regime in view of the situation in Haiti, allowing the EU to autonomously impose restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Haiti, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Haiti. This framework complements the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council in October 2022.

The European Union is a long-standing political and development partner of Haiti, and will continue to play its part alongside other regional partners, to help face the dire situation, including humanitarian crisis in the country.

The EU has allocated nearly EUR 40M in humanitarian aid over the past two years and has committed an additional EUR 30M for 2024. Another EUR 40M is allocated in 2024 from the development cooperation envelope.

Furthermore, the EU is working to provide a direct contribution of up to EUR 10M to the Trust Fund financing the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission authorised by the UNSC with resolution 2699/2022. The EU is also providing significant indirect support to the MSS (EUR 20M)  through support to the Kenyan Defence Forces via the European Peace Facility to improve capabilities for peace-keeping operations, and a EUR 3M contribution to a UNDP-managed basket fund in support of the Haitian National Police. Bringing total support to approximately EUR 170M, these contributions reflect the EU’s comprehensive and on-going support to the Haitian people.

Source – EU Council: Visit the meeting page

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