Jean Henry Céant (born 27 September 1956) is a Haitian politician who was the twenty-first Prime Minister of Haiti. He was sanctioned by the Canadian government for his involvement in human rights violations and supporting criminal gangs on 17 November 2022.
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Presidential campaigns
Céant ran for president of Haiti twice under the banner of his political party, Renmen Ayiti, in 2010 and 2015. In his first campaign, he came in fourth, with 8% of the vote, and in his second he finished sixth, with 2.5% of the vote.
Prime minister
Céant was chosen by President Jovenel Moïse to become Prime Minister of Haiti in August 2018. He was chosen to succeed Jack Guy Lafontant, who had resigned due to an economic crisis. Céant is a notary by profession and was a presidential candidate in 2016. Ceant also leads a political organization called Renmen Ayiti.
On 18 March 2019, Céant's government was dissolved after a 93–6 vote of censuring the government and enacting a motion of no confidence.
Canadian sanctions against Céant
On 17 November 2022, Canada imposed joint sanctions against Céant, former president Michel Martelly and former prime minister Laurent Lamothe for their alleged involvement in "gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti." Céant is accused of supporting violent armed gangs in Haiti that terrorize the population.
The office of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that Céant is "suspected of protecting and enabling the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs.