EU blacklists former Haitian President Martelly, 2 former senators for alleged gang ties

Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald on Dec 15, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Former Haitian President Michel Martelly has been blacklisted by the European Union alongside two once powerful lawmakers and a criminal gang, the EU said Monday, citing their alleged roles in Haiti’s escalating gang violence.

Martelly’s name was added to the EU Council’s sanctions list along with that of former senators Youri Latortue, founder of the political party L’Ayiti An Aksyon, and Rony Célestin, as well as the 5 Segond gang, a powerful criminal group operating in Port-au-Prince.

The EU Council said Martelly, 64, and Latortue, who served as an adviser to the singer-turned-president, “both armed and financed several gangs to promote their political agenda, defend their personal and economic interests, and control the territory.”

Latortue told the Miami Herald that he recognizes “it is the prerogative of the EU to levy administrative sanctions on whomever it wishes, even if the justification offered is false and even, absurd,” but they are ill-timed considering the ongoing volatility in the capital, and the Artibonite region, which he represented in the Senate.

“What I find more concerning and gravely counterproductive is the disconnect between these sanctions and the climate of appeasement that Prime Minister (Alix) Didier Fils-Aimé has sought to promote,” he said. “Sanctions can destroy private lives; but beyond that, they can sabotage positive local efforts, particularly in such volatile times when we have been working at creating a broad political consensus to support the State in fighting gang movements and preparing for upcoming democratic elections.”

“The EU may need to consider the agenda of its sources because all political figures, in any country, have rivals,” he added. “The objective should not be about breeding division, but recognizing those who are actually useful and invested in pragmatic solutions. Creating distrust when the local crisis requires a united front is not sensible, to say the least.”

Célestin, meanwhile, is accused of being “involved in violence linked to armed groups and smuggling.”

The council said Célestin “is responsible for orchestrating the murder of the journalist Néhémie Joseph, who exposed his illegal activities and corruption.”

An ally of slain Haitian President Jovenel Moise, Célestin represented the Central Plateau region while in the Senate. Last year he was indicted by a Haiti investigative judge along with the mayor of Mirebalais, Lochard Laguere, in the death of Joseph. Both were ordered arrested but remain free.

At the time of the charges Célestin professed his innocence, telling the Herald he was the victim of unfounded accusations spread on social media networks that accused him of killing Joseph.

Joseph was found dead in 2019 of gunshots to the head. At the time, he worked for Miami-based Radio Mega, and had written reports critical of Célestin’s dealings.

The EU Council also said the gang 5 Segond was added because it is responsible for theft, rape, kidnapping, murder, piracy, extortion, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and arms and drug trafficking. The gang is based in the Village-de-Dieu neighborhood in Port-au-Prince.

Those sanctioned face asset freeze, and EU individuals and entities are prohibited from providing them with funds or economic resources directly or indirectly. The individuals are also banned from travel to European Union nations.

The three have all been previously sanctioned by the United States and Canada. For Martelly, who served as president between 2011-16 and lives in Miami, this marks the second major action against him in recent days. Last week, Haiti’s anti-corruption agency requested criminal and administrative proceedings against him after submitting a report to prosecutors accusing the former president of lying about his and his wife’s assets before and after he left office.

The heightened scrutiny comes as Haiti prepares to restart its electoral process and as pressure mounts at the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on gang leaders and on politicians accused of gang ties. So far, the efforts have faced resistance from Russia, which has accused the United States and Canada of using sanctions to influence Haiti’s political landscape.

Only one politician is currently listed under the U.N. Security Council’s Haiti sanctions that also includes two gang entities.

_____