Canada sanctions former Haitian leaders accused of profiting from armed gangs, announces aid
- The sanctions, which will freeze any assets the men may have in Canada, target former leaders Michel Martelly, Laurent Lamothe and Jean Henry Ceant
- The men in question ‘directly benefit from the work of the gangs and are associated with a system of corruption,’ said Canada’s foreign minister
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Canada on Sunday said it would impose sanctions against former Haitian president Michel Martelly and two ex-prime ministers accused of profiting from armed gangs, and announced a new aid package for the country.
The men in question “directly benefit from the work of the gangs and are associated with a system of corruption,” Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told journalists during a conference in Tunisia.
The sanctions, which will freeze any assets the men may have in Canada, target former Haitian leaders Laurent Lamothe and Jean Henry Ceant as well as Martelly.
Canada imposed similar sanctions earlier this month against other high-ranking officials over alleged links to organised crime.
Ottawa also on Sunday announced aid worth CA$16.5 million (US$12.3 million) to help the country battle corruption and a cholera outbreak.
Cholera overwhelms Haiti as cases, deaths spike amid crisis
The aid is “necessary to provide water, food and health assistance to fight cholera,” Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Haiti, the poorest country in North America, has been mired for years in an economic, security and political crisis made worse by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last year and the growing influence of gangs.
A previous cholera outbreak killed more than 10,000 people.
