Attachments
Summary highlights
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.
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.
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.
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.