S/PV.9504 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations and Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), concerning Haiti. I now give the floor to Ambassador Biang.

The security situation in Haiti remains very worrying. The country remains prey to violence, including kidnappings with demands for ransom, clashes between rival gangs, mob justice and infiltrations of institutions orchestrated by gangs and criminal networks. More than half of the territory of Port-au-Prince, the capital, is in the hands of criminal gangs who impose their own laws and make the daily life of the Haitian population hell. The Security Council’s adoption on 2 October of resolution 2699 (2023), aimed at enabling the deployment of a specialized multinational force to provide support to the Haitian National Police in combating the extreme gang violence and restoring peace and security in the country, was greeted with great hopes. However, since then its implementation has been slow in getting off the ground. It is crucial that we see the Multinational Security Support Mission deployed, because what is at issue is a restoration of the rule of law, reform of the judicial system and the professionalization of the Haitian National Police, ensuring that it is autonomous, fully operational, well structured and well equipped. It is vital that we work for the effective deployment of the force, which when combined with the sanctions provided for by the regime chaired by Gabon will constitute an asset not only in bringing about a return of peace and stability to Haiti but also in ending the human rights violations, kidnappings, sexual violence, human trafficking, extrajudicial executions and arms smuggling afflicting the country. We are working to expand the sanctions regime, and the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti has made significant progress in that regard. I would like to conclude by once again commending Kenya for its leadership and commitment, which deserves to have the multifaceted support of the international community. We also commend the efforts on the ground of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Caribbean Community for their multifaceted contributions and call once again for the full and effective implementation of resolution 2699 (2023).

I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

The United States thanks Gabon for its stewardship of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti and commends the Committee’s activities this past year. We are also grateful to the Panel of Experts for their important work. Their comprehensive reporting has kept the Security Council informed about the dire humanitarian situation in Haiti and spotlighted the nefarious activities of gang leaders and their political and economic affiliates. Based on the list of Panel recommendations, the United States was pleased to nominate four gang leaders for United Nations designation and greatly appreciated the wide support among Council members and of Haiti. We commend the Council for its successful designation of those individuals, who have committed serious human rights abuses and transnational criminal acts. The United States is deeply concerned about the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. The continued suffering that the ongoing violence is inflicting on the Haitian people must end, and the Council must leverage every available tool to address the threats to peace and security. To that end, we are committed to considering additional individuals for United Nations designation, and we welcome the support and sponsorship of our fellow Council members. The United States remains steadfast in its support of the Haitian people, and we will continue to work closely with the Government of Haiti and Council members to advance peace and prosperity in Haiti and the region.