EU Sanctions Haiti: Former President Martelly and 3 Others Targeted Over Gang Violence

The EU announces new sanctions on Haiti, targeting former President Michel Martelly, two ex-senators, and the 5 Segond gang for financing and arming criminal groups.

The European Union just dropped a bombshell on Haiti’s political elite and criminal underworld. On December 15, 2025, EU leaders approved targeted sanctions against three high-profile Haitian figures—including former President Michel Martelly—and one of Port-au-Prince’s most dangerous gangs.
This isn’t just another diplomatic slap on the wrist. These are hard-hitting measures with real teeth: frozen assets, travel bans, and a complete cutoff from EU financial systems.
Why This Move Changes Everything
For months, Haiti has been spiraling. Gangs control over 80% of Port-au-Prince. Kidnappings happen in broad daylight. Humanitarian aid can’t reach starving communities. The Haitian National Police, brave but under-resourced, is losing ground daily.
The EU finally said: enough.
By naming names—powerful names—they’re cutting through the usual diplomatic vagueness. No more abstract condemnations. These sanctions point directly at individuals who’ve allegedly been pulling strings behind the scenes, treating gangs as their personal armies.
Who Got Hit—and Why
Michel Martelly: The President Who Allegedly Built a Gang Empire
Martelly, Haiti’s president from 2011-2016, now stands accused of creating and funding multiple criminal organizations. According to EU documents, he didn’t just turn a blind eye—he allegedly built the system.
The former president reportedly created “Base 257” from scratch and financed other major gangs like Village de Dieu, Ti Bois, and Grand Ravine. His alleged goal? Protect economic interests, control territories, and maintain political relevance long after leaving office.
The EU’s language is brutal and direct: by providing firearms and cash, Martelly is “responsible for the abuses they have committed” and has “contributed financially to insecurity and instability in Haiti.”
No more Paris shopping trips for Sweet Micky.
Youri Latortue: The Power Broker Who Played Both Sides
Youri Latortue wore many hats: advisor to Martelly, Senate President, and founder of the AAA political party. The EU says he used these positions to build something far more dangerous—a private militia.
Latortue allegedly armed and financed the “Raboteau” and “Kokorat San Ras” gangs in the Artibonite region. Why? To push his political agenda and defend what the EU calls his “personal and economic interests.”
These aren’t neighborhood thugs. Raboteau and Kokorat San Ras are still active, running kidnapping and extortion rackets that terrorize civilians daily.
Rony Celestin: The Lawmaker Turned Alleged Killer
As a former deputy and senator, Rony Celestin had a front-row seat to Haiti’s democratic institutions. Instead of strengthening them, EU investigators say he helped destroy them.
Celestin faces accusations of orchestrating the murder of journalist Néhémie Joseph, who had exposed his alleged corruption and smuggling operations. The EU links him directly to armed groups and trafficking networks, making him “indirectly responsible for actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of Haiti.”
For journalists in Haiti—already one of the world’s most dangerous beats—this sanction sends a clear message: killing the messenger has consequences.
Gang 5 Segond: The Criminal Enterprise
Based in Port-au-Prince’s Village de Dieu neighborhood, the 5 Segond gang operates like a Fortune 500 company of crime—except their CEO is Johnson “Izo” André.
The EU’s description reads like a war crimes indictment: murder, rape, kidnapping, piracy, extortion, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and deliberately blocking humanitarian aid.
Originally part of the G-Pèp alliance, 5 Segond joined the “Viv Ansanm” coalition in 2024 with bitter rivals G9. This unification of gangs escalated attacks against state institutions, creating what the EU calls a “new coalition” of instability.
What These Sanctions Actually Do
Under the updated 2023 EU framework, these measures work independently of UN Security Council approval—giving Europe flexibility to act fast.
Here’s what happens now:
• Asset Freeze: All bank accounts, properties, and financial holdings in EU territory are frozen. No European business can legally touch their money.
• Travel Ban: Martelly, Latortue, and Celestin cannot enter any EU member state. Their visas? Cancelled.
• Resource Blockade: EU citizens and companies face criminal penalties for providing funds, weapons, or any resources to these individuals or the gang.
The legal acts hit the Official Journal on December 15, 2025—meaning they’re enforceable immediately.
The Bigger Picture: Europe’s Gamble
This is a high-risk, high-reward play by Brussels.
On one hand, these sanctions directly target the alleged financial pipelines fueling gang violence. By freezing assets, the EU hopes to starve criminal networks of resources. The travel bans publicly shame elites who’ve long operated with impunity.
On the other hand, Haiti’s crisis runs deeper than any sanctions list. The justice system barely functions. The interim government lacks authority. And gangs have diversified funding far beyond foreign bank accounts—controlling fuel ports, kidnapping ransoms, and drug trafficking routes.
The EU openly admits this is just one tool. In their statement, officials stressed they’ll continue supporting Haitian institutions, public services, and the underfunded police force battling daily gunfights.
But there’s a subtext: Europe is running out of patience with Haiti’s political class. These sanctions name names that, in Haitian society, have been untouchable for decades.
What Happens Next
Watch three things:

1. Martelly’s Response: Will he publicly deny the charges? He’s maintained a public profile through music and social media since leaving office.
2. Gang Retaliation: History shows gangs often increase violence when pressured. Humanitarian workers on the ground are bracing for potential escalation.
3. Regional Domino Effect: Will the US, Canada, or Caribbean nations follow with their own sanctions? The EU’s move creates diplomatic cover for similar actions.
   For ordinary Haitians trapped between gang checkpoints and empty markets, these sanctions feel distant. They need food, security, and functioning hospitals today—not frozen bank accounts in European capitals.
   But if these measures cut even one weapons shipment or stop one politician from funding tomorrow’s kidnappers, they could save lives. In a crisis this desperate, that’s a gamble worth taking.