Banque de la République d’Haïti bans ransom negotiations

The Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH) has issued a formal directive prohibiting all Haitian financial institutions from negotiating with cybercriminals or paying ransoms following a series of attacks on banks such as Sogebank and Capital Bank.

In an advisory signed by Governor Ronald Gabriel, the central bank noted that cyberattacks have increased significantly in scale globally and regionally over the last five years, with Haiti’s financial systems being specifically targeted. To combat this, the BRH has been intensifying cybersecurity efforts since 2023, focusing on staff training, awareness, and the strengthening of digital infrastructures.

Financial institutions are required to activate contingency and business continuity plans immediately upon an attack. The BRH emphasized that its supervisory mission includes ensuring the protection of client data and assets, prioritizing crisis management and the secure restoration of systems over negotiation with attackers.