15/12/25 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 15 December, the EU Council adopted new sanctions against three Haitian nationals and one entity, in response to the escalation of violence by armed groups, the serious human rights violations they continue to commit and the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators. Among those targeted are Michel Martelly, former president of Haiti, and Youri Latortue, his former political adviser and founder of the “L'Ayiti an Aksyon” party. EU Member States have also listed Rony Celestin, a former Haitian senator implicated in violence and held responsible for orchestrating the murder of journalist Néhémie Joseph, who had revealed his illegal activities. The group sanctioned is the “5 Segond gang”, based in the Village de Dieu district of Port-au-Prince, accused of theft, rape, kidnapping, murder, acts of piracy and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid. Link to the legal act: https://aeur.eu/f/jzc (BD)