HAMILTON, Canada

The US declared Wednesday that the "era of impunity" for Haitian gangs is over as it reaffirmed support for efforts to restore stability and democratic governance in the crisis-hit Caribbean nation.

"We agree, Haiti, which has had a long and difficult history, truly stands at a crossroad. The country faces an unprecedented crisis…We have gangs that are terrorizing communities, extorting families, recruiting children to commit horrors on behalf of the gang leaders," US envoy Mike Waltz told the Security Council, warning that "the spillover effects of this violence threaten not only Haiti but the stability of the wider Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere."

Waltz welcomed the Council's adoption of a resolution transitioning the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission into a "Gang Suppression Force" (GSF) supported by a new UN Support Office in Haiti, as well as the renewal of the sanctions regime on gang leaders.

"The era of impunity is over for these gang leaders who promote violence and undermine the country's stability and governance," he said, emphasizing that "stability and security is the oxygen that any type of investment economy or governance needs to move forward."

He said the US "will remain relentless in pursuing those who undermine Haitian security and arm and finance these terrorist gangs."

Waltz further vowed to expand the use of "all available tools, using all means necessary, including indictments, arrests, financial sanctions, arms seizures, visa and other immigration restrictions."

Urging Haiti's political and private sectors to support efforts toward democratic governance, he stressed that "this is not a crisis that can be ignored or deferred. It demands urgent, coordinated and decisive action. The people of Haiti cannot wait."