Spanish
United States announced this Wednesday the imposition of new visa sanctions against members of Haiti's governing body, whom it accuses of facilitating or supporting the actions of armed gangs, in a context marked by a renewed political and security crisis in the Caribbean country.
According to a statement from the State Department, the measures affect three high-ranking Haitian officials: two members of the Presidential Transition Council and a government minister. Although their identities were not revealed, Washington indicated that their actions have contributed to the destabilization of the country by allowing the advance of criminal groups, some of which have been classified as foreign terrorist organizations. As part of the sanctions, the current visas of those involved and their immediate family members will also be revoked.
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The decision comes amid joint warnings from the United States, the European Union, and Canada to the Presidential Transition Council, urging it to avoid changes in the head of government due to the risk of deepening political instability, while operations are underway to contain armed gangs. In that context, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call last Friday with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Fils-Aimé, to whom he reiterated Washington's support and underscored the importance of his continued tenure to confront criminal gangs and move towards the stabilization of the country. Haiti faces a new episode of political tension after five of the seven members of the Presidential Transition Council expressed their intention to remove Fils-Aimé, just days before the Council's mandate officially ends, scheduled for February 7. This situation adds to a prolonged crisis, marked by the systematic violence of armed groups responsible for murders, kidnappings, rapes, and looting in various areas of the country.
