Security Council renews Haiti sanctions for one year, 14 votes to none, Russia abstaining

The Security Council renewed its sanctions regime concerning Haiti by a recorded vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention, the Russian Federation. The Council adopted resolution 2831 (2026), according to UN Meetings Coverage. The regime includes a travel ban, an asset freeze and an arms embargo.

The text expresses concern at reports of misappropriation, embezzlement and diversion of public resources, which the Council says pose a risk to the peace, security and stability of Haiti. It says people who support criminal activities and violence involving armed groups, or who destabilize Haiti through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources, may be listed for travel and financial measures. It also reaffirms that member states shall take appropriate steps to prevent illicit trafficking and diversion of arms, including by strengthening border controls.

UN Meetings Coverage notes that the Council adopted the earlier texts unanimously. The regime was established in October 2022 by resolution 2653 (2022), and the arms embargo was expanded by resolution 2700 (2023). In 2025 the Council strengthened the regime and added two individuals to the list. This vote was not unanimous.

The Russian Federation's representative said the text contains “seemingly noble elements” but risks introducing “essentially a new sanctions criteria” on misappropriation of public resources. He said his country's vote was not meant to shield corrupt officials, and that external interference can only aggravate the situation in Haiti.

The United States and Panama co-led negotiations on the text. Panama's representative called the situation “one of the most pressing crises besetting our region” and said: “We must step up efforts to close the loopholes which facilitate sanctions evasion.” The United States speaker said her country will keep considering designations through the Council and its subsidiary bodies. She also said: “The arms embargo does not apply to the sale, supply or transfer of arms and related materiel or the provision of related assistance and training to the Government of Haiti”.

China's speaker urged member states to act against arms trafficking at the source, naming no country but pointing to “especially the country that is the main source of illicit weapons and ammunition of Haiti”. Liberia's delegate said: “The weapons fueling violence in Haiti are not manufactured in Haiti.” Colombia's delegate said that if 70 per cent of Port-au-Prince is in the hands of gangs, then nine designated individuals and two entities cannot be the only ones responsible. Pakistan's delegate said disagreement over the appointment of Chairs and Vice-Chairs has paralyzed the 2653 Committee.

UN News, the UN's own news service, reports that about 1.5 million people, roughly 12 per cent of the population, have been forced from their homes. It does not say who counted them. It reports that the Council's panel of experts found the arms embargo is violated “on a regular basis”. It also reports that the panel found only two sanctioned individuals' accounts were reported frozen. The panel's message, UN News says, is that “targeting gang leaders without addressing the networks that sustain them will inevitably fall short.”

The two sources differ on duration. The UN Meetings Coverage headline says the regime is renewed for one year. UN News says the Council extended the work of its sanctions committee by 13 months. Neither explains the difference. Neither source says what the vote means for the number of people on the sanctions list.