On August 20, the US imposed sanctions on former Haitian President Michel Joseph Martelly for alleged drug trafficking and being a factor leading to the crisis in Haiti.
 |
| Haitian President Michel Martelly on the day of the end of his presidential term at the Haitian Parliament in Port-au-Prince on February 7, 2016. |
Mr Martelly, 63, served as President of Haiti from 2011 to 2016, after the country suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010.
According to the US Treasury Department, former President Martelly abused his influence to facilitate the trafficking of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, to the United States.
The former Haitian leader also “colluded” with Haitian drug traffickers, funding multiple gangs and engaging in money laundering from illegal drugs.
“The United States’ sanctions against Mr. Martelly demonstrate the role he and other corrupt political actors have played in perpetuating the ongoing crisis in Haiti,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury Bradley Smith.
Under the department’s decision, U.S. financial institutions are prohibited from lending or providing credit to Mr. Martelly, among other restrictions. Mr. Martelly is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, currently residing in Miami.
A pop singer before becoming Haiti’s president, Mr. Martelly enjoyed strong U.S. support before and during his tenure. After leaving office, he made a living performing in South Florida.
During his presidency, Mr. Martelly’s government faced corruption allegations related to disaster aid and the use of money in Venezuela’s oil loan program. In 2022, Canada sanctioned former President Martelly and two former prime ministers for funding cartels.
Gang violence has so far displaced more than 578,000 Haitians and left nearly 5 million people (out of a population of 11.7 million) facing severe hunger, with 1.6 million at risk of starvation, the United Nations says.
