China pushes for U.N. arms embargo on Haiti criminal gangs

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – China mentioned on Thursday it desires the United Nations Safety Council to impose an arms embargo on felony gangs in Haiti because the 15-member physique negotiates a decision to increase a U.N. political mission within the strife-torn Caribbean nation.

The council is because of vote on Friday when the mandate for the U.N. mission expires. However China, backed by Russia, has raised points with the textual content drafted by america and Mexico.

“The scenario in Haiti cannot be worse,” mentioned a spokesperson for the Chinese language mission to the United Nations in New York.

“An embargo of weapons in opposition to felony gangs is the minimal the council ought to do,” mentioned the spokesperson, including that something wanting that will “not solely disappoint the Haitian folks, but in addition means a misplaced alternative” for the council.

Gang violence has soared because the assassination final 12 months of President Jovenel Moise, which created a political vacuum that felony teams have taken benefit of to increase management over territory.

The preliminary draft textual content expresses concern about illicit trafficking and diversion of arms and asks the U.N. mission to work with the U.N. Workplace on Medication and Crime to assist Haitian authorities “in combating illicit monetary flows in addition to trafficking and diversion of arms and associated materiel.”

Diplomats mentioned america and Mexico plan to flow into a revised draft textual content.

A decision wants 9 votes in favor and no vetoes by China, Russia, america, France or Britain to be adopted.

TRANSITION

A senior Safety Council diplomat, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned extra work was wanted earlier than the council may contemplate imposing any type of arms embargo.

“If we have been to maneuver in that path, we have to get them proper. It’s essential it’s essential have a transparent understanding of what precisely we need to accomplish,” mentioned the diplomat, noting the council would additionally have to know precisely who to focus on.

The U.N. political mission is in Haiti to work with the federal government to strengthen political stability and good governance, human rights safety and justice reform and to assist with the holding of free and honest elections.

U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres has requested the council to resume the mission for 12 months. The preliminary draft decision by Mexico and america proposed a 15-month extension. China mentioned it doesn’t assist 15 months.

In a report back to the Safety Council final month, Guterres mentioned the holding of elections in Haiti by the tip of this 12 months “appears unlikely.” China would additionally just like the council to push Haiti to agree a political transition plan inside six months, mentioned the Chinese language U.N. mission spokesperson.

U.N. peacekeepers have been deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a revolt led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Peacekeeping troops left in 2017 and have been changing by U.N. police, who left in 2019.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Enhancing by Lincoln Feast.)