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Observatory of Violence and Resilience in Haiti
Summary highlights
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The Multinational Security Support mission and the Haitian police: stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti is in an increasingly complicated position, and even with 1 000 personnel deployed, it is still far short of the planned 2 500. Despite some victories, gangs have never lost control. Poor coordination between the MSS and the Haitian police, difficulties in rapid deployment and lack of territorial presence, and inadequate intelligence gathering further complicate the response to gang governance. Additional international support is crucial, requiring immediate security measures and long-term institutional reforms to prevent Haiti’s further descent into chaos.
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The Transitional Presidential Council struggles for political legitimacy in the face of growing insecurity.
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council faces significant challenges establishing political legitimacy amid worsening security conditions. The recently formed Provisional Electoral Council has been tasked with organizing long-delayed presidential elections in November 2025, but only eight of Haiti’s 10 departments may be able to hold elections, potentially excluding up to 60% of eligible voters due to gang control in the Artibonite and West Departments. With gangs holding sway over Port-au-Prince, the possibility of free and fair elections remains questionable.
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Gang violence in Haiti: The first anniversary of Viv Ansanm.
Haiti’s security crisis has further intensified between December 2024 and February 2025, with gangs growing from perpetrators of violence to strategic power brokers, led by the coalition Viv Ansanm. While reducing indiscriminate violence in some areas to establish economic control through extortion, gangs have intensified territorial expansion elsewhere. Their recent attack on Kenscoff — a strategic mountainous commune near Port-au-Prince — represents a tactical shift. By infiltrating this upper-middle-class area, they have established footholds closer to Pétion-Ville, Port-au-Prince’s financial and political hub. Despite efforts by Haitian police and the UN-backed Multinational Security Support mission, gangs continue to strengthen their grip, effectively encircling the capital and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
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Are Haitian gangs on the road to political recognition?
The gang coalition Viv Ansanm now controls 85% of Port-au-Prince — and is seeking more political recognition. In January, its leader announced the group’s transformation into a political party and proposed structural changes to the country’s governance. Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has shown some division in how to respond; some members have considered acknowledging the coalition, while others strongly oppose any alliance with gang entities. This development presents Haiti with a critical dilemma: political integration could incentivize gangs to step down, but might also formalize violent power structures. Moving forward requires transparent institutional policies for demobilizing criminal groups rather than informal political dealings.
About this issue
The third issue of the Risk Bulletin of Violence and Resilience in Haiti analyzes ongoing gang violence in the country and the first anniversary of the formation of Viv Ansanm (Living Together, in Haitian Creole), the gang coalition that has transformed Haiti’s security landscape. It examines the evolution of gang tactics, their expanding territorial control and their growing political ambitions against the backdrop of Haiti’s broader institutional, humanitarian and security crises. Finally, it delves into the factors and dynamics that have driven the intensification of violence in Haiti and boosted the influence of criminal groups and illicit economies.
Criminal governance is still gaining ground, unchallenged by the Haitian authorities or the international community. This is particularly evident in the extortion rackets that are still operating in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, but also in Artibonite. Moreover, Viv Ansanm’s emergence as a unified force over the past year is particularly concerning, as the coalition’s demand for political recognition challenges Haiti’s existing political order — creating new dilemmas for the Haitian government and international actors.
The steady continuation of gang violence between December 2024 and February 2025 has resulted in severe consequences for Haiti’s population, including mass displacement, economic collapse and widespread insecurity. Law enforcement bodies, such as the Haitian National Police, have proven ineffective at countering gang activities. Meanwhile, international efforts, particularly the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission, remain hindered by operational challenges. Stranded in a strategic and operational deadlock, the Haitian and international forces remain caught between a rock and a hard place.
Since it was established in April 2024, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has faced considerable obstacles in implementing meaningful security and governance reforms. This has placed Haiti into a state of political paralysis, with crucial implications for future governance — including the possibility of organizing elections in November 2025 — international cooperation, and broader efforts to restore stability, justice and public order.
The complexities of Haiti’s escalating gang crisis underscore the urgent need for a coordinated, multifaceted response to address the root causes and symptoms of the country’s criminal crisis.