Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The era of unchecked impunity for those accused of pillaging Haiti’s public treasury and contributing to the nation’s destabilization may soon be over. In a decisive move, Leslie Voltaire, president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), announced on his X account on the evening of Monday, February 10, 2025, that the government will take all necessary measures to investigate and prosecute political, economic, and social figures sanctioned by the international community for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, corruption, and destabilization.
“The State will act firmly to bring to justice those who undermine Haiti’s security and stability,” wrote Voltaire, the Fanmi Lavalas representative within the CPT. He also called on the public to remain vigilant against any attempts at manipulation and destabilization.
“Do not fall into the trap of gangs and those who serve their interests,” he warned, emphasizing the government’s commitment to restoring law and order.
A List of High-Profile Figures in the Crosshairs
The legal pursuit will target over 30 individuals previously sanctioned by the United States, Canada, and the United Nations since December 2020, including:
- Former President Michel Martelly
- Ex-Prime Ministers Laurent Salvador Lamothe and Jean Henry Céant
- Several former parliamentarians
- Notorious gang leaders such as Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue”
- Businessmen accused of financing armed groups
These figures have been accused of threatening Haiti’s peace and stability, funding gang activities with arms and ammunition, and engaging in systemic corruption to consolidate their personal interests.
To ensure a robust legal case, Voltaire has instructed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to coordinate with international authorities in gathering evidence against the accused. This effort could mark a historic shift in Haiti’s governance, demonstrating that even the most powerful figures are not beyond the reach of the law.
A Nation at the Breaking Point
Haiti’s crisis continues to deepen, with the United Nations reporting over 5,600 deaths due to gang violence in 2024 alone. The humanitarian toll is staggering:
- More than one million people displaced, over half of whom are children (IOM).
- Armed groups have effectively seized control of key areas, undermining national order.
Additionally, sanctions imposed by the U.S., Canada, and the U.N. include asset freezes, visa revocations, travel bans, and international arrest warrants, further isolating these individuals from the global financial and diplomatic system.
A Defining Moment for Haiti’s Future
For decades, those who have plundered the Haitian public treasury and enabled lawlessness have escaped justice, protected by a deeply entrenched system of corruption and impunity. But this latest push suggests that their day of reckoning may be approaching.
With international sanctions already in place and local prosecution now on the table, Haiti stands at a crucial crossroads—one that could determine whether the country can reclaim its sovereignty, restore order, and finally hold its elites accountable for the suffering they have caused.
The question now is whether this government will follow through with prosecutions—or whether impunity will continue to define Haiti’s fate.
