ScriptSwan
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US Targets Former Police Officer and Gang Leader Over Violent Ties to Haiti's Viv Ansanm Alliance
The US Treasury has slapped sanctions on two Haitian nationals, Dimitri Herard and Kempes Sanon, amid growing international concern over the escalating gang violence in the Caribbean nation. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on what it describes as "foreign terrorist organisations" operating in Latin America.
Herard, a former police officer, is accused of colluding with Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang alliance that has taken control of much of Haiti's capital city. The US Treasury says Herard provided training and guns to the group, and had previously been imprisoned by Haitian authorities for his role in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
Sanon, on the other hand, is identified as the leader of the Bel Air gang, a key component of the Viv Ansanm alliance. He has been implicated in numerous killings, extortion, and kidnappings, and the US Treasury says he played a significant role in building Viv Ansanm's power.
The sanctions block both men from accessing assets or property in the US and prohibit US-based entities from engaging in transactions with them. The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to take on what it describes as "gang-related violence" in Latin America, a rhetoric that has been criticized for being overly broad and nativist.
The UN Security Council has echoed the US's sanctions against Sanon and Herard, designating both men and agreeing to extend its arms embargo on Haiti. The council also approved the creation of a "gang suppression force", which is expected to replace a Kenyan-led mission to reinforce Haiti's security forces.
However, the Trump administration says that more needs to be done to combat Haiti's gangs, calling for additional designations against individual suspects. In an open letter, US Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said that while the council's actions were "appreciated", they were not enough, and that "Haiti deserves better".
The sanctions come as Haiti faces a crisis of public confidence, with a power vacuum since Moise's assassination in 2021 and last year's national elections. The gangs have exploited this power vacuum to expand their influence, with Viv Ansanm now controlling nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince's territory.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced by gang violence in Haiti, a 36% increase over last year. Over 5,600 people were killed, and 2,212 injured, in what is one of the worst gang-related crises in recent history.
As tensions continue to escalate in Haiti, the international community is increasingly calling for action to address the root causes of the crisis. The US Treasury's move against Herard and Sanon is seen as a small step towards this goal, but critics say that more needs to be done to hold those responsible accountable and to support Haitian efforts to rebuild their country.
The US Treasury has slapped sanctions on two Haitian nationals, Dimitri Herard and Kempes Sanon, amid growing international concern over the escalating gang violence in the Caribbean nation. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on what it describes as "foreign terrorist organisations" operating in Latin America.
Herard, a former police officer, is accused of colluding with Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang alliance that has taken control of much of Haiti's capital city. The US Treasury says Herard provided training and guns to the group, and had previously been imprisoned by Haitian authorities for his role in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
Sanon, on the other hand, is identified as the leader of the Bel Air gang, a key component of the Viv Ansanm alliance. He has been implicated in numerous killings, extortion, and kidnappings, and the US Treasury says he played a significant role in building Viv Ansanm's power.
The sanctions block both men from accessing assets or property in the US and prohibit US-based entities from engaging in transactions with them. The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to take on what it describes as "gang-related violence" in Latin America, a rhetoric that has been criticized for being overly broad and nativist.
The UN Security Council has echoed the US's sanctions against Sanon and Herard, designating both men and agreeing to extend its arms embargo on Haiti. The council also approved the creation of a "gang suppression force", which is expected to replace a Kenyan-led mission to reinforce Haiti's security forces.
However, the Trump administration says that more needs to be done to combat Haiti's gangs, calling for additional designations against individual suspects. In an open letter, US Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said that while the council's actions were "appreciated", they were not enough, and that "Haiti deserves better".
The sanctions come as Haiti faces a crisis of public confidence, with a power vacuum since Moise's assassination in 2021 and last year's national elections. The gangs have exploited this power vacuum to expand their influence, with Viv Ansanm now controlling nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince's territory.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced by gang violence in Haiti, a 36% increase over last year. Over 5,600 people were killed, and 2,212 injured, in what is one of the worst gang-related crises in recent history.
As tensions continue to escalate in Haiti, the international community is increasingly calling for action to address the root causes of the crisis. The US Treasury's move against Herard and Sanon is seen as a small step towards this goal, but critics say that more needs to be done to hold those responsible accountable and to support Haitian efforts to rebuild their country.
I'm all about layout here. So, let's break down the sanctions on these two guys... Dimitri Herard and Kempes Sanon. The US Treasury is slapping them with sanctions because of their ties to Viv Ansanm, a gang alliance that's taken over most of Port-au-Prince. 
The key point here is that Haiti's gangs have been exploiting a power vacuum since Jovenel Moise's assassination in 2021.
The international community is calling for action to address the root causes of this crisis, but it seems like the US Treasury's move against Herard and Sanon is just a small step in the right direction.
It's all about giving people a clear understanding of what's happening here.
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. It shows that there are people who care about this situation and want to see some real change happen.
. And let's be real, it's not like the US government is just gonna sit around twiddling their thumbs while Haiti's going through this mess 
. They're taking action and that's gotta count for something!
... it's gonna make some noise for a bit, but won't really change much in the long run 
. We need to stop thinking of Haiti as just another gang problem and start looking at the systemic issues that created this mess in the first place 
. It's all about who gets to control the narrative and dictate the solutions... meanwhile, Haitian folks are still struggling to access basic services and have their lives disrupted by these gangs 
The sanctions might help, but I don't think it'll be enough to make a real difference unless there's more funding for community programs and social services. 
The UN's new gang suppression force might be a step in the right direction, but I'd rather see them putting more resources into prevention and community engagement than just enforcing punishment.
We gotta think this through before we act, y'know?
sanctions r not exactly the most effective way to tackle gang violence 
they should be working with haiti itself to figure out how 2 deal w/ this mess 
. Sanon & Herard might be guilty of somethin, but what about all the people who've been affected by the US policies in Haiti over the years? That's like puttin a bandaid on a bullet wound and expectin everyone to heal just 'cause...
. The US cracking down on these guys is def a good start 
. The numbers are insane, 1.4 million displaced people? That's a whole lotta lives lost 
. We need concrete action from the international community to help Haiti get back on its feet 
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These sanctions are a start, but it's not enough. We need more than just words and actions to actually make a change 
I mean, we've got a power vacuum in Haiti and these guys are just exploiting it... Meanwhile, the international community is just sitting back and letting them do their thing. It feels like nobody's really taking this seriously enough. 
. and btw, how can we expect them to rebuild their country when there are still so many corrupt officials in place? 
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. Maybe we need more international pressure on Haiti and the US to take a more nuanced approach to this crisis 
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. they ain't gonna let a little thing like sanctions stop 'em