Overview:
Haitian police arrested Arnel Bélizaire, a former deputy of Delmas/Tabarre and fugitive, Saturday, March 14, in Pétion-Ville—two days after he appeared on the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to register his “Liberation Platform” political celebration for the 2026 elections. He had been wished for about two months for allegedly financing terrorist gang actions and threatening nationwide safety.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Arnel Bélizaire, a former Haitian lawmaker and fugitive, was arrested Saturday by brokers of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) in Pétion-Ville, two days after registering his political celebration for Haiti’s upcoming elections.
Saying his arrest, police mentioned Bélizaire was wished on expenses associated to financing terrorism, prison affiliation and conspiracy towards State safety. He was apprehended on the Resort Oasis’ restaurant in Pétion-Ville, an upscale suburb lower than 10 miles from downtown Port-au-Prince.
The arrest comes as Haiti faces its worst safety disaster in many years, with armed teams controlling giant swathes of the capital and increasing their political affect. Each nationwide and worldwide authorities have more and more linked some political figures to gang financing and alliances.
Bélizaire submitted paperwork on March 12 to register his new political celebration, the “Liberation Platform,” with Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
His look on the council’s workplace drew consideration as a result of police had issued a wished discover for him months earlier, but he had not been arrested.
The CEP registered 110 political events that day. The council is anticipated to publish the ultimate record on March 26, based on the electoral calendar.
Haiti’s electoral schedule units the primary spherical of voting for Aug. 30 and a second spherical for Dec. 5, 2026.
Bélizaire, who represented the Delmas–Tabarre district after being elected in 2011, beforehand dismissed the arrest warrant as political intimidation. In February, he mentioned judicial police had by no means summoned him for questioning earlier than issuing the discover.
Lengthy historical past of authorized troubles, US sanctions
Bélizaire has an extended authorized document and a checkered previous involving a number of jail stints and escapes that date again greater than a decade.
He was first arrested and detained within the Nationwide Penitentiary on expenses together with unlawful weapons possession and conspiracy in 2004. Bélizaire escaped from jail in 2005 whereas ready for trial. He was recaptured the identical 12 months earlier than escaping once more throughout one other jailbreak on the jail following the 2010 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince.
After escaping jail for a second time in January 2010, Bélizaire lived as a free man and even managed to be elected to the Haitian Parliament in a March 2011 runoff election as a member of the Veye Yo—Haitian Creole for ‘watch them’—political celebration. That 12 months, regardless of him being a lawmaker, he was arrested as a result of police noticed his identify on a listing of inmates who escaped jail. However he was launched quickly after below strain from his fellow parliamentarians, claiming his immunity.
Since then, Bélizaire has been the topic of nationwide consideration, together with publicized confrontations with former President Michel Martelly and his violent threats towards the late President Jovenel Moïse.
In November 2019, authorities arrested him once more on expenses of arms trafficking and sedition, offenses that carry a minimal 15-year jail sentence. He was launched in 2021 by an investigating choose who dropped the costs towards him.
In September 2025, the USA imposed sanctions on Bélizaire and former Haitian senator Antonio “Don Kato” Chéramy, accusing them of corruption whereas holding public workplace.
In accordance with the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, the sanctions make Bélizaire, Chéramy and their rapid members of the family ineligible to enter the USA.
“Bélizaire and Chéramy abused their positions by interfering within the public processes of the Haitian authorities,” the embassy mentioned in an announcement on the time.
“These corrupt and dangerous acts have had severe penalties for U.S. nationwide pursuits by additional destabilizing Haiti’s establishments and processes.”