UN Security Council renews Haiti sanctions for a year, with 14 votes in favour and a Russian abstention

The UN Security Council on 14 October renewed its Haiti sanctions regime for one year, adopting resolution 2831 (2026) by 14 votes in favour and none against. The Russian Federation abstained, according to the Council’s meeting record.

The renewal keeps the travel ban, the asset freeze and the arms embargo in place. The text also expresses concern about the misappropriation, embezzlement and diversion of public resources, which it says threaten Haiti’s peace, security and stability. It states that people who support gang violence, directly or indirectly, or who destabilise Haiti through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources may be listed for travel and financial measures.

The resolution reaffirms that member states should prevent arms trafficking and diversion into Haiti, including by strengthening border controls, and calls on the Haitian authorities to improve the management of weapons and ammunition held by the police and armed forces. The sanctions regime was created in October 2022 by resolution 2653, and resolution 2700 (2023) widened the arms embargo.

What members said

Haiti’s representative told the Council that armed groups depend on financing, supply and support networks, some of them linked to national and international actors, and called for cooperation among the countries of origin, transit and destination of weapons. Panama, a co-penholder, described Haiti as “one of the most pressing crises besetting our region” and urged members to close loopholes that allow sanctions evasion. The United States, the other co-penholder, said the arms embargo does not apply to arms supplied to the Government of Haiti, and urged support for the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration.

Russia said the text could introduce “essentially a new sanctions criteria” on the misappropriation of public resources, which it argued is not directly tied to the listing criteria of resolution 2653. It added that its abstention was not meant to shield corrupt officials. China urged states, above all the main source of Haiti’s illicit weapons, to fight arms trafficking at the source.

France supported the listing of gang supporters and called for faster deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, noting that elections have been postponed because of instability. Colombia argued that sanctions should cover more actors, pointing out that gangs reportedly control 70 per cent of Port-au-Prince while only nine individuals and two entities are designated. Pakistan regretted that disagreement over the appointment of committee chairs has stalled the 2653 Committee and other subsidiary bodies. Liberia said the weapons fuelling the violence are not made in Haiti and that the measures target perpetrators and enablers rather than the country or its people.

For other recent Council business on conflicts, see UN Security Council urges coordinated mediation on eastern DRC as ceasefire remains elusive.