Advertisement

Canada sanctions 3 more Haitian elites over ‘illicit’ support to armed gangs

Click to play video: 'Canada ‘extremely concerned’ with violence in Haiti, looking for more sanctions: Joly'
Canada ‘extremely concerned’ with violence in Haiti, looking for more sanctions: Joly
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said on Tuesday that the government is “extremely concerned” with ongoing gang violence in Haiti and has sent equipment to help the national police maintain order in the country. She added she’s had several conversations with regional counterparts and is working with other countries on imposing sanctions upon groups inciting violence in Haiti – Oct 18, 2022

Canada has announced additional sanctions on Haitian political elites who “provide illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs,” a news release from Global Affairs Canada said Saturday.

Three new individuals have been sanctioned and a dealings prohibition has been imposed on them, which effectively freezes any assets they may hold in Canada, according to the statement.

Haitian senator Rony Célestin, former senator Hervé Fourcand and Gary Bodeau, former president of the Chamber of Deputies, are the latest to make it to Canada’s sanction list.

Since the 2021 assassination of former Haitian president Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has been dealing with several internal issues — the situation escalated severely in September when Haitian gangs blocked a gas depot that resulted in fuel shortages.

Story continues below advertisement

On Nov. 4, the Canadian government announced sanctions against Joseph Lambert, president of Haiti’s Senate, and Youri Latortue, a former Senate president, for their participation in “gross and systematic human rights violations” and engaging in acts that “threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti.”

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

In the statement released Saturday, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly said the government will continue to put “pressure on armed gangs and their supporters to help the people of Haiti emerge from this crisis and restore peace and security in their country.”

“We will consider additional sanctions against individuals and entities in Haiti and other measures to end the ongoing violence,” Joly added.

What has Canada done so far?

In October 2022, Bocchit Edmond, Haiti’s ambassador to the U.S., called on Canada and the U.S. to help the Haitian government confront the gangs causing violence.
Canada partnered up with U.S. armed forces to airlift a commercial delivery of specialized vehicles to Haiti on Oct. 15.

Story continues below advertisement

During the same month, Canada also sent a team to Haiti to assess the crisis in order for the government to weigh in on a potential military mission to assist the nation.

Besides imposing sanctions on Haiti’s political elites, Canada also sanctioned Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier on Nov. 14 over human rights abuse.

Moreover, on Sept. 21, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $20 million in aid to help Haiti rebuild following the 2021 earthquake.

Click to play video: 'Thousands protest in Haiti against Canada, U.S. sending police and military supplies'
Thousands protest in Haiti against Canada, U.S. sending police and military supplies

Sponsored content

AdChoices