In a desperate attempt to calm widespread fear over escalating gang violence, the leader of Haiti’s transitional presidential council admitted Thursday that the nation has “become hell for everyone.” He promised new initiatives to curb the bloodshed and restore some semblance of normalcy.
Fritz Alphonse Jean took the stage a day after a massive protest shook Port-au-Prince. Thousands of Haitians, driven to anger by relentless gang crime, confronted police forces outside the council’s and the prime minister’s offices. Such large-scale protests have not been seen since the council was formed a year prior.
In a direct address to Haitians, Jean declared, “Haitian people, you’ve spoken, and we’ve heard you. We understand your misery. We know your pain and your suffering.” His words come against the grim backdrop of a death toll exceeding 4,200 from July to February, alongside over 1,356 injuries, as per a U.N. report. The recent outbreak of gang activity left over 60,000 individuals homeless in a single month, according to the International Organization for Migration.
“This national address comes at a decisive moment for the transitional government,” remarked Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group. Protesters intentionally targeted key governmental buildings to voice their frustrations. Jean’s address coincided with the first anniversary of the political pact forging the new transitional government, which has since seen significant internal cohesion crumble, according to Da Rin.
Originally unified groups that endorsed the governance structure are now demanding a shakeup in leadership. However, these calls, echoed by the international community, have gone unmet. During Jean’s proclamation, he listed several areas devastated by gang hostility. He stated, “You lost your homes, you lost your businesses, you lost your jobs, they raped you, they raped your kids. The criminal gangs killed a lot of people.” Yet, he strove to inspire unity, recalling Haiti’s battle out of enslavement and emergence as the first free Black republic.
Jean implored the public to resist gang coercion and support law enforcement’s efforts, urging Haitians not to allow distress to lead them astray. He also announced plans involving a special budget and the enlistment of agents from the armed state environmental group, BSAP, to address the violence. “The council asks the prime minister and the police to take these measures without delay,” he asserted, stressing that they stand in a state of war.
Details—such as the financial allotment and the number of BSAP agents—were scant. Jean also assured that the electoral council was working towards having new leadership when the transitional council’s term ends on February 7 of the following year, including making provisions for the diaspora to vote in Haiti’s first general elections in nearly ten years.
Haiti has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021, during which time gangs have only grown stronger. Though a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police aimed at supporting local authorities was deployed, it lacks the personnel—only about 40% of the originally planned 2,500—that were projected.
Despite Rene’s address, those most afflicted by gang brutality expressed skepticism. Mario Jean-Pierre, a 53-year-old street vendor uprooted from his home by violence, was unimpressed. He now resides in a makeshift encampment within the Ministry of Public Works’ grounds. “Flying bullets are coming at you in different directions,” he recounted. “I’ve seen a few people in this camp who were hit by bullets as they slept.” Fearing for his children’s safety, he doubted any real change would come from Jean’s pledges. “This speech is not any different from other speeches,” he said. “They keep making promises and don’t accomplish any of the promises they’ve made.”
Da Rin observed that throughout his speech, Jean highlighted Haiti’s security dilemma’s international dimensions, presenting the gang problem as part of a wider issue involving transnational crimes like money laundering and arms and drug trafficking. “By framing Haiti’s gang problem as a matter of transnational crime that goes beyond Haiti’s borders, the president seems to be seeking to rally international support for further security assistance that matches the escalating threats,” he concluded.