UNITED NATIONS – On Monday, during a briefing with the U.N. Security Council, the foremost U.N. authority in Haiti stressed the urgency of escalating gang activity in the Caribbean nation, warning it could lead to an irreversible decline if not properly addressed. María Isabel Salvador, the U.N. Representative, highlighted the potential for “total chaos” in Haiti unless there is a boost in financial aid and international support for a Kenya-led multinational force assisting Haitian police in combating gang violence that is spilling beyond the capital, Port-Au-Prince.
Recently, gangs have taken control of Mirebalais, a city in central Haiti, causing a jailbreak where over 500 prisoners escaped. This marked the fifth such incident in less than a year, which she stated signals a strategic attempt by gangs to cement their power, weaken official institutions, and spread fear. Despite support from both the armed forces and the international mission spearheaded by Kenya, Haiti’s law enforcement agencies remain severely strained by the prolonged and widespread violence, she added.
The gang networks, which expanded following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, now exert control over approximately 85% of the capital and have started extending their control into neighboring regions. Haiti has been without a president since Moïse’s death. The U.N. mission led by Kenyan police that arrived last year was intended to curb the rampant gang violence but is currently understaffed and underfunded, operating with just 40% of the initially projected 2,500 personnel.
Salvador reported that in February and March alone, the violence resulted in 1,086 deaths and 383 injuries. The U.N. migration office revealed that in just the past two months, over 60,000 Haitians have been displaced, adding to the 1 million already displaced by the end of last year. She anticipates these numbers will continue to climb. Attempts to reduce anxiety among Haitians have been made by Fritz Alphonse Jean, the head of Haiti’s interim presidential council, who pledged new actions to curb the violence, while acknowledging the country’s dire situation.
However, Salvador, leading the political mission in Haiti, noted that efforts by the Haitian government alone are insufficient to significantly lower the violence from the criminal groups. In February, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres indicated plans to ask the Security Council for funding approval to cover operational costs of the Kenya-led mission from the U.N. budget, but there has been no movement from the 15-member council on this request as yet.
Salvador emphasized the critical need for timely and determined international intervention to alter Haiti’s security situation, cautioning that without such assistance, the country faces impending disorder. Monica Juma, Kenya’s national security adviser, via a briefing from Nairobi, announced that the force has entered a critical operational phase amid rising organized attacks by gangs on people, infrastructures, and political leaders.
While anti-gang efforts by Haitian police and international forces have seen some success, notably in safeguarding key infrastructure, Juma pointed out existing significant challenges. Although 261 Kenyan police officers are ready to deploy, they are hindered by inadequate equipment and logistical support. Juma urged the council to assume a “more assertive and proactive role” in stabilizing the region, highlighting the urgency of cutting off gun and ammunition supplies to gangs and enforcing sanctions on gang leaders. U.N. experts identified most of these firearms originate from the United States, particularly from Miami.