UN, US slap sanctions on four Haiti gang leaders

The United Nations Security Council on Friday said it had approved the addition of four suspected Haitian gang leaders to its sanctions list, a long-awaited addition as the Caribbean nation faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. slapped sanctions on Renel Destina, believed to be the main leader of the Grand Ravine gang; as well as Vitel’homme Innocent, understood to head the Kraze Barye gang; Johnson Andre of 5 Segond; and Wilson Joseph of 400 Mawozo.
The U.S. Treasury Department earlier on Friday announced fresh sanctions against the same four individuals.
Survivors have identified Andre and his gang as directly responsible for 1,035 cases of sexual violence in 2022 alone, the Treasury Department said in a statement.
The Treasury said Destina, a key ally of Andre, was responsible for killings, robberies, rapes, looting and burning down homes, and has also been indicted for kidnapping U.S. citizens in 2021.