There’s a Way Out of Haiti’s Nightmare

By Diego Da Rin and Renata Segura

Mr. Da Rin and Ms. Segura work on Haiti and Latin America for International Crisis Group.

When Haiti’s president Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home in July 2021, few Haitians imagined the horrors that would unfold.

Since then, gangs that enrich themselves through extortion, kidnapping and drug trafficking have devastated the capital of Port-au-Prince and nearby provinces. They have used scorched-earth tactics and sexual violence to instill fear and expand their territorial control. More than 1.4 million people have been displaced, and over 10,000 people have been killed in the last two years alone. The state has proved incapable of curbing the violence and establishing order; many of those in power today have done little more than squabble over control of public posts and budgets.

As attempts to get the situation under control have failed, the crisis in Haiti has not only deepened but fallen off much of the world’s radar.

Now, with the emergence of a strong prime minister and the deployment of an enhanced multinational security mission, there could be an opportunity to finally dismantle the gangs that have blighted Haiti. Much will depend on whether the authorities can strike the right balance between a show of might and a readiness to negotiate.

Gangs have tormented Haiti for decades. Today’s groups have roots in small armed organizations that for decades have served as armies for hire for politicians and businesspeople seeking to sway elections, repress protests, protect businesses or carry out attacks against their competitors. Even as gangs have grown more independent, their connections with members of the Haitian elite remain very much alive.

Poverty and inequality have also provided the perfect breeding ground for recruitment; with more than half of the country suffering from acute food insecurity, gangs have exploited people’s hardships to swell their ranks. The recruitment of minors, who account for up to half of all gang members, has shot up. Far fewer children can now be seen begging in the streets in Port-au-Prince than just a few years ago, having been lured by gangs with offers of hot meals, weekly payments and protection — or simply forced into joining.

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