Haiti
The political and security situation in Haiti is particularly unstable. The uncontrolled and illicit possession of weapons and ammunition by civilians directly contribute to the high rates of crime in the country[1], and the level of armed violence perpetrated by gangs and non-state armed groups is especially high in the capital Port-au-Prince.[2] It is also reported that the weapons and ammunition possessed by these groups are smuggled into the country mostly from the United States[3] and are sometimes funded by the country’s elite groups and wealthy families.[4]
In terms of Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM), Haiti received assistance from UNLIREC[5], UNMAS[6], the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and subsequently the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) (which both completed their mandate)[7] to notably enhance its ammunition disposal capacities. Haiti also adopted the “Caribbean Firearms Roadmap” in 2019 and started establishing a National Action Plan to enhance its WAM capacities.
[1] UN Security Council, “Small arms and light weapons: Report of the Secretary-General”, S/2019/1011, para. 14, https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2019_1011.pdf.
[2] Athena R. Kolbe, “Prospects for Post-Minustah Security in Haiti”, International Peacekeeping 27:1, 2020, 44-57, DOI: 10.1080/13533312.2020.1711557.
[3] Brian Ellsworth, “U.S. reports spike in weapons smuggling to Haiti and the Caribbean”, Swiss Info, 17.08.22, https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/u-s--reports-spike-in-weapons-smuggling-to-haiti-and-the-caribbean/47834232.
[4] Athena R. Kolbe, “Prospects for Post-Minustah Security in Haiti”, International Peacekeeping 27:1, 2020, 44-57, DOI: 10.1080/13533312.2020.1711557.
[5] UNLIREC, “Haiti addresses Goal 4 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap during round table meeting to advance its National Action Plan”, 21.04.22, https://unlirec.org/en/haiti-addresses-goal-4-of-the-caribbean-firearms-roadmap-during-round-table-meeting-to-advance-its-national-action-plan/.
[6] MINUSTAH, « Des policiers haïtiens formés à la gestion des armes obsolètes », 01.07.14, https://reliefweb.int/report/haiti/des-policiers-ha-tiens-form-s-la-gestion-des-armes-obsol-tes.
[7] MINUSTAH, « La PNH armée aussi pour détruire armes à feu et munitions obsolètes », 21.01.15, https://minustah.unmissions.org/la-pnh-arm%C3%A9e-aussi-pour-d%C3%A9truire-armes-%C3%A0-feu-et-munitions-obsol%C3%A8tes.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, no accidental explosions have been reported in Haiti.
Source: UEMS Database (December 2021); Small Arms Survey. ‘Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)’. https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Haiti.
Disposal
Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.
To decrease the above-mentioned risks of accidental explosions and diversion, Haiti has disposed of its ammunition since 2013.
Table 3. Disposal of tonnes of ammunition in Haiti
Year | Tonnes of ammunition |
2021 | N/A |
2020 | N/A |
2019 | N/A |
2018 | N/A |
2017 | N/A |
2016 | N/A |
2015 | N/A |
2014 | N/A |
2013 | 7.53 |
Source: MINUSTAH, “Security: 8.3 tons of munition destroyed at Ganthier”, 20.12.13, https://minustah.unmissions.org/security-83-tons-munition-destroyed-ganthiers%C3%A9curit%C3%A9-83-tonnes-de-munitions-d%C3%A9truites-cette-semaine.
Needs
Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.
No needs have been reported for Haiti.
