The United States State Department has announced visa sanctions against a Haitian government official accused of aiding criminal gangs and obstructing efforts to combat organized crime in Haiti. While the department did not disclose the official’s name or the specific gangs involved, it confirmed that any existing visas held by the individual would be revoked. A source close to the matter identified the sanctioned official as Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haiti’s transitional presidential council. Jean, during a press conference, dismissed the allegations as a ‘masquerade’ but did not directly confirm he was the target of the sanctions. He vowed to continue advocating for good governance and opposing systemic chaos in Haiti. The US had previously designated two Haitian gangs, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as terrorist organizations in May 2024. The State Department reiterated its commitment to supporting Haiti’s stability and emphasized the need for progress toward free and fair elections. This development follows the arrest and deportation of prominent Haitian businessman Dmitri Vorbe in September 2023, who was accused of backing gangs. Another businessman, Pierre Reginald Boulos, was arrested in July 2023 for allegedly contributing to Haiti’s destabilization. Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long grappled with rampant gang violence, including murders, rapes, looting, and kidnappings, exacerbated by chronic political instability. The crisis deepened in early 2024 when gangs forced then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign.