Kempes Sanon

Résolution CSNU 2794 (2025) du 17/10/2025 and (ue) 2025/2443 du 01/12/2025

Autorité de désignation publiée : Union européenne

Kempes Sanon a commis des actes qui menacent la paix, la sécurité et la stabilité d’Haïti en dirigeant le gang Les Argentins, également connu sous le nom Bel Air, qui opère à partir de son fief du quartier du Haut Bel-Air à Port-au-Prince. Fort d’environ 150 membres, ce groupe est impliqué dans des violations systématiques des droits humains (extorsions, enlèvements, prélèvement de taxes illégales). Kempes Sanon a joué un rôle important dans le renforcement de l’emprise des gangs sur Port-au-Prince, notamment en participant à la coalition Viv Ansanm, qui a lancé des attaques coordonnées pour étendre les territoires contrôlés par les gangs. Sous sa direction, Les Argentins ont lancé des assauts répétés contre des quartiers comme Solino, faisant de nombreuses victimes et provoquant le déplacement de milliers de résidents. Kempes Sanon entretient également un réseau de personnes au sein des institutions gouvernementales, y compris des services de sécurité, ce qui lui évite de se faire arrêter et lui permet de mener ses activités criminelles. Incarcéré pour enlèvement, vol et assassinat, il s’est évadé de prison en 2021 et continue depuis à déstabiliser Haïti par ses actions.

geldefonds.gouv.mc

Reference HTi.009fic.gov.za

Programme UN-SC2653Reference HTi.009un.orgun.org

Reference 9Reference HTi.009mof.go.jp

Referencia publicada: HTi.009

Reference HTi.009repet.jus.gob.ar

Prohibition/Restriction

Redacted for Security Reasons

sam.gov

Programme SECO-HAITIReference 97777Reference HTi.009seco.admin.chseco.admin.ch

UNLI HTI 7.11.2025

Programme UN-SCISILfinance.belgium.beun.org

Block and SDGT

Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886

Executive Order 13224 (Terrorism)

Programme US-TERRReference 55936treasury.govofac.treasury.gov

Targeted financial sanction and travel ban

Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions—Haiti) Regulations 2025

Listed by UN 2653 Committee on 17 October 2025

Programme UN-SC2653Last updated 8 Dec 2025dfat.gov.auun.org

Designation date published: 2025-10-17

regulationType=regulation; organisationType=un

UNLI HTI 7.11.2025

Programme EU-UNLIReference EU.13853.9docs.un.orgdata.europa.eu

Kempes Sanon a commis des actes qui menacent la paix, la sécurité et la stabilité d'Haïti en dirigeant le gang Les Argentins, également connu sous le nom Bel Air, qui opère à partir de son fief du quartier du Haut Bel-Air à Port-au-Prince. Fort d'environ 150 membres, ce groupe est impliqué dans des violations systématiques des droits humains (extorsions, enlèvements, prélèvement de taxes illégales). Kempes Sanon a joué un rôle important dans le renforcement de l'emprise des gangs sur Port -au- Prince, notamment en participant à la coalition Viv Ansanm, qui a lancé des attaques coordonnées pour étendre les territoires contrôlés par les gangs. Sous sa direction, Les Argentins ont lancé des assauts répétés contre des quartiers comme Solino, faisant de nombreuses victimes et provoquant le déplacement de milliers de résidents. Kempes Sanon entretient également un réseau de personnes au sein des institutions gouvernementales, y compris des services de sécurité, ce qui lui évite de se faire arrêter et lui permet de mener ses activités criminelles. Incarcéré pour enlèvement, vol et assassinat, il s'est évadé de prison en 2021 et continue depuis à déstabiliser Haïti par ses actions.

Programme UN-SC2653Reference HTi.009gels-avoirs.dgtresor.gouv.frun.org

Asset freeze and travel ban

Kempes Sanon, alias “Kempes”, is the leader of the Les Argentins gang (also known as the Bel Air gang), which has around 150 members. The gang’s stronghold is located in the Haut Bel-Air area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Kempes has been involved in various actions that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti. In particular, he has engaged in systematic violations of human rights, firearms and ammunition trafficking, and supporting individuals designated by the United Nations Security Council, including Jimmy Chérizier (alias “Barbeque” - HTi.001). Kempes Sanon has been playing a significant role in the consolidation of power by gangs over Port-au-Prince. Kempes was a founding member of the G-Pèp coalition, and has been playing a key role in enabling the growing hegemony of the Viv Ansanm alliance since February 2024. In particular, Kempes and his gang, along with Barbeque, the leader of the Delmas 6 gang and spokesperson of Viv Ansanm, conducted, in the course of several months, repeated assaults against the neighbourhood of Solino. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and fighting with local self-defence groups resulted in many casualties and thousands of people having to flee their homes as a result of the extensive violence. Kempes and his allies eventually took full control of Solino in late October 2024 and, at the time of writing, are continuing to attack the last free bastions of Port-au-Prince, including Petion Ville and Haut-Delmas. Kempes Sanon and his gang are involved in extorsion, illicit taxation and kidnappings. He has a network of people working for him within governmental institutions, including within security agencies, which allow him to avoid arrests, launder money and undertake kidnapping. Kempes Sanon is wanted by the Haitian National Police (HNP) as he escaped prison in 2021 where he was incarcerated for kidnapping, theft and assassination. In September 2022, the Dominican Republic banned Kempes from entering their territory and, on 4 March 2025, they designated the “Haut Bel-Air gang” (Les Argentins) as a terrorist organisation. In May 2025, the United States designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Kempes Sanon, alias 'Kempes', is the leader of the Les Argentins gang (also known as the Bel Air gang), which has around 150 members. The gang’s stronghold is located in the Haut Bel-Air area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Kempes has been involved in various actions that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti. In particular, he has engaged in systematic violations of human rights, firearms and ammunition trafficking, and supporting individuals designated by the United Nations Security Council, including Jimmy Chérizier (alias 'Barbeque' - HTi.001). Kempes Sanon has been playing a significant role in the consolidation of power by gangs over Port-au-Prince. Kempes was a founding member of the G-Pèp coalition, and has been playing a key role in enabling the growing hegemony of the Viv Ansanm alliance since February 2024. In particular, Kempes and his gang, along with Barbeque, the leader of the Delmas 6 gang and spokesperson of Viv Ansanm, conducted, in the course of several months, repeated assaults against the neighbourhood of Solino. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and fighting with local self-defence groups resulted in many casualties and thousands of people having to flee their homes as a result of the extensive violence. Kempes and his allies eventually took full control of Solino in late October 2024 and, at the time of writing, are continuing to attack the last free bastions of Port-au-Prince, including Petion Ville and Haut-Delmas. Kempes Sanon and his gang are involved in extorsion, illicit taxation and kidnappings. He has a network of people working for him within governmental institutions, including within security agencies, which allow him to avoid arrests, launder money and undertake kidnapping. Kempes Sanon is wanted by the Haitian National Police (HNP) as he escaped prison in 2021 where he was incarcerated for kidnapping, theft and assassination. In September 2022, the Dominican Republic banned Kempes from entering their territory and, on 4 March 2025, they designated the 'Haut Bel-Air gang' (Les Argentins) as a terrorist organisation. In May 2025, the United States designated Viv Ansanm as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Programme GB-HTReference HAI0013Reference 17200Reference HTi.010Last updated 20 Oct 2025gov.ukgov.uk