The United Nations has finally expanded an arms embargo on Haiti in response to escalating gang violence that has devastated the Caribbean nation. But before we celebrate this move as some kind of breakthrough, let’s take a step back and acknowledge the reality: the UN’s decision comes far too late, after decades of inept governance and failed international interventions that have left Haiti in ruins. The country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is essentially a war zone, controlled not by the Haitian government but by armed gangs that terrorize the local population.

The gang violence didn’t materialize overnight. It’s the result of decades of corruption, lawlessness, and ineffective governance—a fact the UN conveniently ignores. Instead of addressing these systemic issues, the UN has focused on temporary fixes, like this arms embargo, which might slightly reduce the flow of weapons but won’t address the underlying problem.

For years, these gangs have operated with impunity, and the people of Haiti have suffered the consequences. In the absence of law and order, these groups have filled the power vacuum left by a government too weak or too corrupt to assert control.

The arms embargo, while well-intentioned, is simply not enough. It’s a band-aid on a gaping wound. Armed gangs in Haiti will continue to find ways to smuggle weapons, while the law-abiding citizens who want to protect themselves will be left defenseless. And what about the local police? They are woefully underfunded, undertrained, and outgunned by these criminal enterprises. How does the UN expect them to restore order without the proper resources and support?

The international community has long treated Haiti like a charity case, swooping in with aid money and temporary fixes, but never addressing the deep-rooted issues that have plagued the country for generations. What Haiti truly needs is a complete overhaul of its governance structures and a crackdown on corruption. It needs real leadership that can restore law and order—not just another embargo that does little to change the status quo.