The key facts

  • Haiti demands implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2831 of October 14 to halt arms trafficking
  • According to Haiti's representative, gangs' weapons were not produced in the country and are smuggled in
  • From July to September: more than 1,000 killed, more than 100 kidnappings, about 1.5 million displaced persons

Appeal to the UN Security Council

On Monday, Haiti called on the international community to comply with the UN arms embargo, warning that heavily armed criminal groups continue their offensives thanks to illegal weapons and ammunition smuggled in from abroad. Speaking at the Security Council, the country's representative said that gangs are able to stand up to security forces precisely because their weapons and ammunition 'were not manufactured in Haiti' and keep entering the country through transnational criminal networks.

Resolution 2831 and Disarmament

Haiti's representative stressed that member states must implement Resolution 2831, adopted on October 14. It calls on international partners to take 'urgent and decisive measures' to stop the flow of arms into the Caribbean country. In his words, 'security operations alone will not be enough': the re-establishment of the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reintegration reflects the country's determination to fight the root causes of gang violence.

Scale of Violence According to the UN

The appeal came during a broader council meeting, at which UN representatives reported that from July to September armed violence claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, with more than 100 kidnappings recorded. Insecurity has spread to rural departments, and the total number of displaced persons across the country has reached nearly 1.5 million.

International Forces and Equipment Shortage

The Multinational Security Support mission (GSF) has exceeded 2,000 personnel from six participating states. However, the mission's leadership warned that a serious shortage of armored vehicles, tactical communications and aerial reconnaissance assets continues to hamper efforts to push out armed groups.