Over the past week, more than 150 people have been killed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti as the capital experiences a surge in gang violence. The United Nations has reported that over half of the deaths resulted from clashes between gang members and police. Nearly 100 people were injured, and around 20,000 have been displaced from their homes.
Gangs, often with ties to political and business leaders, have been vying for control in Haiti for years. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, the situation deteriorated. The violence led to the resignation of the prime minister and the deployment of a multinational police mission, which has so far been unsuccessful in regaining control from the gangs.
The United States is pushing for more funding and personnel to bolster the police force, with a proposal to transform it into a UN peacekeeping force. Kenya, a key contributor to the mission, supports this push for more resources to address the crisis.
Despite concerns about past UN interventions in Haiti, civil society leaders cautiously welcome the multinational mission but emphasize that the country’s problems cannot be solved by force alone. They call for more support for Haiti’s national police force, an end to corruption, and a Haitian-led political process.
As armed groups control a majority of Port-au-Prince and recent violent incidents have disrupted air travel, the UN has expressed deep concern for the safety and human rights of those living in gang-controlled areas. The situation in Haiti is seen as a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating, with severe consequences for the population, especially women and children.
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