Haiti’s transitional government to prosecute sanctioned figures

Port-au-Prince, (EFE).- Leslie Voltaire, president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), announced that the state will take legal action against political, economic, and social figures sanctioned by the international community for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and destabilization. He affirmed that the government would act decisively to uphold security and stability.

Over 30 individuals, including former President Michel Martelly, ex-Foreign Minister Laurent Lamothe, and several former parliamentarians, have been sanctioned by the U.S. and Canada. Armed gang leaders such as Jimmy Cherisier, alias “Barbecue,” are also on the list. Voltaire instructed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime to gather evidence against these individuals in cooperation with international authorities.

Voltaire urged the public to resist manipulation by gangs and their allies. Haiti remains in crisis, with over 5,600 deaths in 2024 due to gang violence, according to UN data. Additionally, the number of displaced persons has surpassed one million, with more than half being children, per the International Organization for Migration (IOM).