In accordance with Section 6(j) of its Guidelines, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals and entities included in the sanctions list.
Vitelhomme Innocent was listed on 8 December 2023 pursuant to paragraph 15 of resolution 2653 (2022) for the measures listed in paragraphs 3 and 6, as further elaborated by paragraphs 16(a), 16(e), and 16(f) of resolution 2653 (2022).
Vitelhomme Innocent is the leader of the Kraze Barye gang, which has become one of the most powerful gangs in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, with an increasing number of fighters and semi-automatic weapons (see S/2023/674, para. 66). Innocent has been involved in activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti.
Under Innocent’s leadership, the Krazye Barye gang has committed human rights abuses involving murder rape, recruitment of children, and kidnapping for ransom, as well as other crimes such as armed robbery, destruction of property, theft of vehicles, spoilation of land, and destruction of property (see S/2023/674, para. 141, Annex 4). Innocent is also wanted by the Haitian National Police for crimes including murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery vehicle theft, and kidnapping (see S/2023/674, Annex 19)
Kraze Barye has targeted the Haitian National Police on multiple occasions, resulting in the deaths of several police officers and damage to police stations. Moreover, the populations of Petion-Ville, Kenscoff, Tabarre, Croix-des-Bouquets, and Delmas communes have repeatedly suffered attacks by Innocent’s gang over the past three years, which have contributed to displacement of thousands of people. He has continued to commit abuses against the police and the population, including those involving the spoliation of land and property, killings, looting, stealing and kidnapping of influential individuals (see S/2023/674, para 66).
In July 2023, the Kraze Barye gang continued to attack, kill, and rape residents of Fort-Jacques, Truitier and Dumornay. As of 10 August 2023, Kraze Barye’s attacks had resulted in the displacement of around 2,000 people, including 229 minors (see S/2023/674, para. 151).
Innocent has conducted targeted kidnappings against prominent figures, such as the regional director of APN port of Cap-Haïtien, the director of a private television station on “Route des Freres”, the director of the “Radio Commerciale d’Haiti,” as well as a famous journalist and the former president of the Provisional Electoral Commission, among others (see S/2023/674, Annex 22). Innocent was indicted on charges related to the October 2022 armed hostage taking, in Haiti, of two U.S. citizens, one of whom was killed during the event (Press release, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia, October 24, 2023).