The last decade in Haiti has been a tragic narrative, marked by the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which plunged the nation into deepening chaos. Once resilient, Haiti's foundations are crumbling under the relentless grip of gangs that now dominate nearly every aspect of daily life in Port-au-Prince and beyond. The absence of state authority has forced citizens to fend for themselves, amidst a reign of terror.
The Escalation of Gang Violence in Haiti:
Haiti has become a city where the sounds of gunfire are as common as the crowing of roosters, a place where children no longer play in the streets due to fear. This grim reality affects millions. A recent United Nations report details over one million displaced people, as armed groups seize control of neighborhoods. Nearly 5.4 million people face severe food insecurity, and once-vital roads are now impassable, disrupting trade and mobility. The Haitian police force, underfunded and overwhelmed, cannot stem the tide of violence. This has led to a tragic irony: the very institutions meant to protect have become symbols of inadequacy and fear.
The Rise of Vigilantism: The Bwa Kale Movement:
As citizens lose faith in the police and judiciary, some have embraced the Bwa Kale movement, engaging in vigilante justice against suspected gang members. In this lawless environment, self-defense seems the only option, despite its moral complexities. Haiti's gang crisis extends beyond its borders, evolving into sophisticated transnational criminal organizations with networks spanning continents. This exacerbates migration crises, posing challenges for neighboring countries and straining resources for the United States.
International Sanctions and Their Impact:
Reports suggest that some of Haiti’s political elite manipulate these gangs for electoral gain, receiving financial backing and impunity in return. This vicious cycle has prompted the international community to impose sanctions. The U.N. Security Council initiated a sanctions regime in October 2022, including travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes against key figures. However, this framework is fragmented and lacks coordination. While 45 Haitian nationals, including Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, have been sanctioned, many elites remain untouched due to administrative gaps and lack of unified international action. Canada, for instance, has sanctioned fifteen individuals but does not collaborate with U.S. or EU sanctions, allowing criminals to exploit loopholes.
The Role of US Arms Trafficking:
A significant number of firearms used in Haiti’s violence originate from the United States. A staggering 73% of traced firearms recovered in the Caribbean between 2018 and 2022 were sourced from the U.S. This underscores the need for U.S. law enforcement to track these weapons and collaborate with Caribbean partners. Weaknesses in enforcement, such as the lack of a dedicated arms trafficking frame within counter-narcotics operations, hinder the fight against organized crime. Expanding the mandate of operations like the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) to include weapons trafficking would enhance efforts to combat this.
Recommendations for International Action:
To disrupt criminal networks, the international community must galvanize a cohesive strategy. The U.S. can leverage its extradition agreements to hold Haitian elites accountable and collaborate with regional security alliances like CARICOM. Strengthening the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) can facilitate intelligence-sharing. A unified task force representing the U.S., its allies, and international organizations can stymie arms and drug trafficking.
Haiti’s collapse is not inevitable. The resources to disrupt criminal networks exist, but disorganization and delay hinder effective strategies. A robust action plan targeting the financial and logistical infrastructure of gangs is needed. The urgency of coordinated global intervention cannot be overstated. Every day of inaction prolongs the suffering of millions, locking Haiti in a cycle of violence and despair.
