Senior U.N. officials warned on Wednesday that Haiti’s gangs have achieved “near-total control” of the capital, with authorities unable to contain the escalating violence in the impoverished Caribbean nation. According to Ghada Fathy Waly, the executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince is now under the control of criminal groups expanding their attacks beyond the city into previously peaceful areas.
Waly highlighted that southern Haiti, once insulated from violence, has experienced a significant rise in gang-related incidents. Additionally, criminal groups in the east have been exploiting land routes, including key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse, resulting in attacks against police and customs officials. The shrinking authority of the state as gang control expands is leading to the establishment of “parallel governance structures” by these criminal groups. This has paralyzed legal commerce along major trade routes, causing soaring prices for essential items like cooking fuel and rice, Haiti’s staple food.
U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned the Security Council about the “ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince” and the increasing stronghold of gangs in and around the capital, pushing the situation dangerously close to a collapse of state presence. The power of gangs has grown following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, with estimates indicating they controlled 85% of the capital prior to this latest surge in violence.
Despite the presence of a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police aimed at curbing gang violence, the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, hampering its effectiveness. Only about 40% of the initially envisioned 2,500 personnel are currently deployed. Efforts to bolster the mission with support such as drones, fuel, and transport equipment have stalled in the council. The U.N. Secretary-General’s proposal for non-lethal assistance remains unimplemented.
In response to the escalating threat posed by gangs, private security companies and vigilante self-defense groups have proliferated, with some aiming to safeguard communities while others engage in illegal activities and collaborate with gangs. Recent months have seen a rise in violence, including targeted killings and sexual assaults, as documented by the U.N. political mission in Haiti.
A recent report by U.N. experts has highlighted how gangs have exploited political instability and the inadequate response to Haiti’s security crisis. The report points to internal power struggles and allegations of corruption within Haiti’s transitional governing bodies, hindering effective action against the escalating violence. The experts underscore that these attacks serve not only to bolster gangs’ influence and financial resources but also to further political agendas seeking to disrupt the ongoing transition in Haiti.
According to experts responsible for monitoring an arms embargo on Haiti and sanctions against key gang leaders, little progress has been made in restoring public security or implementing the roadmap for organizing national elections by February 2026. The report presented to the Security Council highlights the challenges faced, including a weak national police force dealing with internal leadership issues, an army in need of rebuilding, and limited support from the multinational force. The experts caution that without stronger international assistance, the gangs are likely to maintain control. Additionally, vigilante groups, which may include local police officers involved in human rights violations, are a concern. The report also notes a troubling number of extrajudicial killings by the Haitian National Police, with suspected gang members often being summarily executed, including women and children. Despite the U.N. arms embargo on Haiti, the experts reveal that gangs are still acquiring more powerful weapons from regional markets and police stockpiles in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic.
