SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. government has imposed visa restrictions on Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haiti's transitional presidential council, accusing him of supporting gangs and criminal organizations amid the country's ongoing political instability. Although the U.S. did not specify the name in its announcement on Monday, Jean confirmed he was the individual sanctioned, denying the allegations and suggesting they may be tactics to influence Haiti's political landscape.

Haiti is scheduled to hold elections by February 7, at which point the nine-member transitional presidential council is expected to step down. However, critics claim that some members of the council are attempting to remain in power past this deadline and are pursuing a new prime minister who would align with their goals. Jean has rejected such assumptions and declared that his objective is to appoint a prime minister committed to combating gangs and corruption.

Jean stated, "Once we started reviewing the possibilities of changing the head of government, members of (the council) started receiving threats of visa cancellations and other sanctions from the U.S. Embassy representative and the Canadian ambassador." He emphasized the council's commitment to fighting corruption, drug trafficking, and the proliferation of firearms.

There has been no immediate response from U.S. or Canadian officials regarding the sanctions. The office of Haiti's current prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, did not respond to requests for comment.

Jean, who has previously served as both an economist and the governor of the central bank, has criticized the current leadership for failing in essential areas such as security, governance, and election organization. He expressed a need for "a more proactive, more responsible government" while asserting that the council has been pressured to conduct elections before their term ends. However, the escalating gang violence has made it increasingly unlikely that the February deadline can be met.

Gangs currently dominate 90% of Haiti's capital and various regions within the country, frequently extorting businesses, harming civilians, and engaging in territorial conflicts using advanced weaponry. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently highlighted the concerning level of violence in Haiti, noting rising calls for war against the central government and cautioning that anyone obstructing political stability would face consequences from the U.S. and its allies, including visa revocations.

Following his conversation with the Associated Press, Jean held a press conference, presenting messages he claimed to have received from unidentified sources warning him against moves to oust the prime minister. Jean's assertions have drawn support from former Haitian Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who publicly denounced the intimidation tactics allegedly used by embassies against Haitian political leaders.

Despite the transitional government’s pressure to finally hold elections, gang violence continues to exacerbate the situation, and the Provisional Electoral Council has now set tentative election dates for August and December of the following year. Haiti has not conducted elections in nearly a decade, as the country has struggled with political turmoil since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

The violence has claimed over 4,300 lives, including gang members, between January and September of this year, illustrating the pressing need for stability in the region. Furthermore, a U.N.-backed mission, supported by Kenyan police, has faced challenges in curbing the violence. Haiti currently awaits a new gang-suppression force that would have the authority to arrest suspected gang members, which the existing force lacks.

In a significant setback for the country, Sunrise Airways, the only airline providing domestic and international flights to Haiti, announced its suspension of services due to safety concerns stemming from gang violence. Haiti's main international airport has reportedly faced multiple closures since last year due to these security threats.