China urges UN for an arms embargo to halt gang violence in Haiti

China urged the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to impose an arms embargo on criminal gangs in Haiti as the agency negotiates to extend a political mission in the country plagued by gang wars. 

The arms embargo that China is asking for would cut off the supply of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition to gangs in Haiti. 

Additionally, Beijing called for the council to demand an immediate halt to hang violence, criminal activities, roadblocks, and the occupation of public institutions, reported The Associated Press. 

The Security Council plans to vote on Friday when the mandate for the current UN mission expires. However, China and Russia have brought up several issues with the text that was drafted by the United States and Mexico. 

"The situation in Haiti can't be worse," said a spokesperson for the Chinese mission to the United Nations in New York.

"An embargo of weapons against criminal gangs is the minimum the council should do," said the spokesperson, saying that anything less would "not only disappoint the Haitian people, but also means a lost opportunity" for the council.

Haiti has been plagued with gang violence since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated last year, leaving a political vacuum and non-ending turf wars by gangs seeking to gain control of more territory. 

This week, gang violence and shootings in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince left more than 50 people dead and over 100 wounded. Additionally, access to one of the country’s main fuel ports, the Varreux fuel terminal, was blocked by gangs. 

The initial draft of the text asks the UN mission to help "in combating illicit financial flows as well as trafficking and diversion of arms and related materiel."

The United States and Mexico plan to circulate the revised draft text. For the resolution to pass, it needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes. 

The United Nations has been involved in Haiti since 1990s. The last UN peacekeeping mission was in the Caribbean country from 2004 to 2017. The current political mission provides advice to Haiti’s government on “promoting and strengthening political stability and good governance.”