Foreign Minister urges curbing weapon trafficking to gangs at UN Council

New York.- Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez addressed the UN Security Council, calling for a strengthened and sustainable Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti to restore stability and peace. Speaking during the Council’s quarterly review of Haiti, Álvarez urged the upcoming report from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to propose measures aligned with UN mission objectives, such as protecting civilians, reducing violence, and empowering Haitian authorities to assume responsibility for security.

Álvarez emphasized the urgent need for the UN to take a more active role in Haiti’s pacification, noting that current efforts, including the MSS led by Kenya, have been insufficient. He highlighted the alarming escalation of gang violence, with over 5,600 deaths in 2024, including a deadly attack in Pont-Sondé that claimed 70 lives. Álvarez condemned proposals to include criminal groups in Haiti’s transitional government, calling them a threat to the nation and the region.

The foreign minister also stressed the importance of curbing the illicit flow of weapons and funds to gangs and prosecuting those involved. He noted that the Dominican Republic has arrested and charged individuals implicated in ammunition trafficking. Álvarez warned that without stopping the flow of powerful weapons, the MSS mission would face insurmountable challenges.