China, Russia call for tougher sanctions on arms traffickers
Diplomats from China and Russia have stressed the need to stop the flow of firearms to gangs. Most of the illegal weapons seized in Haiti and the Caribbean come from the United States.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said the UN should strengthen its sanctions regime by targeting traffickers, who, unlike the five local gang leaders already sanctioned, are more vulnerable to foreign asset freezes and travel bans. “We don’t see the current embargo doing anything to stop the flow of weapons from the United States,” Nebenzia said. “The experts on the committee are clearly not eager to disagree with Washington.”
The representative of China, noting some progress in the political and security fields as well as the arrival of the multinational security support mission, said that the root causes of the multidimensional Haitian crisis have still not been addressed. It is crucial to advance the political process, stressing that the absence of elections in the country since 2016 has resulted in a political vacuum, leading to a deterioration of law and order.
It is essential to propose a credible electoral calendar and promote a Haitian-led and -owned political process, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the capacities of the National Police. Noting the continued influx of illicit weapons, he highlighted the police seizure of weapons and ammunition from the United States, recalled the Council’s arms embargo on Haiti, and urged the United States to strengthen its arms control. Expressing support for the current mandate of BINUH, he said that the time was not right to expand its presence beyond the capital and add electoral functions.
The representative of the Russian Federation, President of the Council for the month of July, speaking on his own behalf, said that the transitional authorities must prioritize holding elections, restoring order and establishing interim administrative bodies.
“Any external interference in these processes is unacceptable,” he stressed. Noting that armed groups continue to control the main entry and exit points of the capital as well as important transport infrastructure, he observed that the main arms smuggling route runs from Florida to Haiti.
The current embargo does not prevent the flow of arms from the United States, he added, also noting that the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) shies away from using sanctions to address the problem.
His current list includes five people who are leaders of criminal gangs; however, the activities of the criminal world are only a small part of the problem. In addition, the gangs have no property or assets abroad and do not travel abroad, unlike arms traffickers from the United States, he stressed.
The multinational security support mission must work in close coordination with national security forces. “We were promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past,” he said, noting that the mission’s activities and public perception will be closely monitored.
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