Haiti Deploys New Strategy Against Gang Domination

Raised fists and riot police under Haitian flag

Haiti’s government has established a $275,000 “war budget” to combat rampant gang violence as armed groups now control 85% of Port-au-Prince and continue to seize new territory throughout the country.

Quick Takes

Haiti’s $275,000 “war budget” allocates 40% to police and military forces fighting gangs, 20% to border security, and 16% to social programs.
Gangs control at least 85% of Port-au-Prince and have recently captured towns in Haiti’s central region, forcing authorities to flee.
The gang coalition “Viv Ansanm” has taken control of Mirebalais and Saut’d’Eau, resulting in a prison break and at least 60 deaths.
Over 1,500 people were killed and 572 injured due to gang violence in just the first three months of 2024.
Human rights organizations criticize the government for its delayed response despite repeated warnings from civilians and self-defense groups.

Escalating Gang Control Forces Desperate Measures

Facing a catastrophic security situation, Haiti’s embattled government has approved a $275,000 “war budget” as gangs expand their control beyond the capital. The emergency funding aims to counter armed groups that have overtaken numerous towns and regions while leaving a trail of destruction and death. Nearly 40% of this budget will support police and military operations against gangs that have effectively seized control of most of the country’s capital and are rapidly expanding their territory.

Authorities face an increasingly desperate situation as gangs now control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince and have recently captured towns in Haiti’s central region, including Mirebalais and Saut’d’Eau. The budget reflects the government’s attempt to demonstrate commitment to restoring order, though critics question whether the funds are sufficient to address the massive security collapse.

Territory Falls as Authorities Retreat

The gang coalition “Viv Ansanm” has systematically overtaken strategic areas, forcing police and prison staff to abandon their posts. In Mirebalais, armed gangs burned the police station and orchestrated a mass prison escape. The violence has resulted in at least 60 deaths, including gang members and escaped inmates. The situation deteriorated further when Saut’d’Eau fell to gangs on April 3, reportedly due to law enforcement being redeployed to other areas, leaving the town vulnerable.

According to National Human Rights Defense Network, “Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates.”

The spreading violence has claimed numerous victims, including two nuns, a police officer, while two journalists remain missing. Attempting to establish some control, the government has allocated 20% of the war budget to strengthening the border with the Dominican Republic, which has expressed growing concerns about violence spilling across their shared boundary.

Rising Death Toll and Humanitarian Disaster

The human cost of Haiti’s security collapse continues to mount at an alarming rate. Between January 1 and March 27 of this year alone, more than 1,500 people were killed and 572 injured due to gang violence. A devastating attack in late January resulted in 260 deaths in Haiti’s capital, with subsequent attacks occurring in Kenscoff and Carrefour. According to United Nations figures, gang violence has displaced over one million Haitians in recent memory, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The National Human Rights Defense Network has been scathing in its criticism of the governmental response, noting that civilians and self-defense groups had repeatedly raised alarms that were ignored by authorities. “By ignoring the (central region’s) collapse the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens’ rights and public safety,” it said. The war budget allocates 16% to social programs focused on education, health, and humanitarian assistance, attempting to address the catastrophic social conditions resulting from years of violence.

International Support Struggles

A UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police is currently operating in Haiti but faces severe resource constraints in their efforts to assist local authorities. The mission has already suffered casualties, highlighting the extreme danger facing security forces. The international community continues to express concern about Haiti’s deteriorating situation, but coordinated action has been limited as gangs systematically expand their control throughout the country, threatening to overtake remaining government-controlled territories.

As Haiti’s government attempts to combat the security crisis with its war budget, the question remains whether these efforts can reverse the alarming territorial gains of gang coalitions that now effectively control much of the country. With each town that falls, the government’s ability to reestablish order becomes increasingly doubtful, leaving Haitian citizens trapped in an escalating cycle of violence with little protection from authorities.