Gang Violence in Haiti: An Overview of this Crisis in 2024
Kenyan police officers during a visit from US Ambassador to UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield in Haiti, 2024
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/U.S Embassy Haiti
Since the start of 2024, gang violence in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels, with widespread hunger and poverty enabling rampant gangs to tighten their violent control over the struggling country. As the empowerment of criminal networks continues to go unchecked by both the Haitian government and the rest of the world, Haitian civilians are left stranded in the crossfire, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis. For the sake of this analysis, gang violence refers to criminal and non-political acts of violence committed by a group of people who regularly engage in criminal activity against innocent people. Gang violence in Haiti in 2024 is a result of the culmination of prolonged political instability, systemic poverty, and the unchecked power of gangs, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and deepening social divides. Thus unregulated violence, left unaddressed by the government for years, highlights the serious need for political reform and international intervention.
Haiti’s armed gangs are believed to consist of 200 armed gangs and gang coalitions, operating predominantly in Port-au-Prince, responsible for mass killings, sexual violence, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Dating back to the assassination of President Moise in 2021, combined with their successful demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in 2024, they have proven their desire to exercise political control throughout the country – albeit through violent and malicious means.
According to the United Nations report, since the beginning of 2024, the number of Haitian casualties in 2024 increased by 53 percent, marking the most violent period since BINUH, The UN’s Integrated Office in Haiti, started recording statistics in January 2022. Meanwhile, approximately 360,000 Haitians remain internationally displaced, with a large fraction fleeing to the capital, Port-au-Prince. This has forced nearly 5 million Haitian people into a state of acute hunger, deepening the already fatal level of hunger and poverty afflicting the country.
The aforementioned consequences are largely due to political instability that has left a void in Haitian government strength, allowing for gangs to step in and cause destruction. While it is easiest to rationalize their actions by blaming gang violence in Haiti on poverty, the legacy of colonialism, widespread deforestation, or European and U.S. interference, the most immediate cause is the weakness of the Haitian government. Without a solid framework of transparent political institutions, Haitian leaders have been exercising their power under the guise of armed groups. The symbiotic relationship between politicians and gang leaders created a system where both sides benefited—politicians secured their positions, and gangs gained resources and operational freedom. Furthermore, Haiti has lacked a standing army and strong national police force for decades, and United Nations and American humanitarian interventions have come and gone, with no avail. Chronic underfunding and corruption within the Haitian National Police have left them ill-equipped to counter gang violence effectively, allowing gangs to operate with impunity.
The recent 2024 BINUH report warned that in the absence of state representatives, “gangs increasingly assume roles typically held by the police and judiciary while imposing their own rules”. Furthermore, Robert Fatton, a professor of government and foreign affairs at the University of Virginia, argues that “the autonomy of the gangs has reached a critical point. It is why they are capable now of imposing certain conditions on the government itself”. Gangs have overtaken government positions and are now using their influence from within. The infiltration of gangs into the government, coupled with their close association with the nation’s rulers and politicians, signifies a profound breakdown in the Haitian government’s ability to serve and support its people. Ultimately, as these gang coalitions continue to acquire better weapons and greater sophistication, the most feasible path to resolving the violence lies in the formation of a new government. A strong prime minister, capable of revolutionizing the country's political climate, could lay the groundwork for meaningful change.
At the same time, addressing domestic challenges is crucial to reducing the influence of armed groups. Regarding domestic challenges, Haiti faces a number of ongoing systemic problems, such as high unemployment and a lack of opportunities, that contribute to the power of armed groups. A lack of education and opportunities remains a continuous challenge. With limited prospects, youth (particularly young men) are often drawn into the criminal world where gangs offer not only financial incentives but also a sense of community and purpose. This trend has become even more prominent in 2024, as the hope for a stable and peaceful country continues to diminish.
In addition, the disruptions to the daily life of Haitian civilians have also been severe. High levels of violence have resulted in school closures and restricted access to healthcare, making survival in gang-controlled neighborhoods increasingly difficult. In early March, gangs targeted state infrastructure, including multiple police stations and two major prisons in Port-au-Prince, as well as educational and health facilities, and religious sites. These attacks emphasize the relentless grip gangs have on Haiti’s society, destabilizing communities and deepening the preexisting humanitarian crisis.
As Haitian leadership struggles to support affected communities, the need for an external peacekeeping force has become urgent. However, deploying such a force raises questions about Haiti’s sovereignty, the risk of worsening gang violence, and the overall effectiveness of international intervention. Following a recent deadly attack, killing roughly 115 people in a farming region in Haiti, Kenyan President William Ruto sent approximately 600 more troops as a part of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to counter gang violence. Despite their efforts, they have been unable to quell the violence. Ultimately, a sustainable solution requires not only immediate peacekeeping efforts but also long-term international support for political reforms and economic investment to address the root causes of gang violence—yet achieving this level of coordination and commitment remains a significant challenge.
Despite the slow start to intervention, 2024 has seen more substantial progress in international efforts to assist Haiti from the United States. As of October 7, 2024, the U.S. had supplied civilian contracted personnel, equipment, and supplies – vehicles, medical supplies, and hygiene and sanitation materials – to Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to support the MSS Mission. In addition, the United Nations has recently shown a more robust presence in Haiti. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric declares that, starting on November 12, “WFP has also provided cash to nearly 100,000 people and is delivering daily meals to 430,000 children in 2,000 schools across the country,” along with the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, which provided cash to nearly 1,500 people in displacement sites in the capital. Furthermore, the U.N. population and migration agencies deployed mobile health clinics and are providing clean water. While these measures provide short-term relief for affected Haitians in the region, it may become increasingly difficult as gangs block the entry point of Port-au-Prince, requiring greater international support to deliver humanitarian aid packages.
The increase in gang violence in Haiti in 2024 is a product of ongoing political instability, economic struggle, and the unchecked power of armed coalitions. The government’s historic reliance on gangs as political tools has backfired, leaving Haiti in a period where violence and destruction have become an everyday concern for many civilians. While revitalizing Haiti's political system will be a long and complex undertaking, it is crucial to initiate the formation of a transparent government under the scrutiny of international partners, for the sake of the well-being of the Haitian people. Thus, reconstructing the government from the ground up is crucial to establishing sustainable governance free from violent gang influence. Achieving long-term peace and prosperity requires decisive intervention, collaboration, and active participation from the international community to address the ongoing crisis effectively. Until these underlying governmental issues are resolved, Haiti’s citizens will continue to suffer under the heavy burden of gang violence, instability, and the upheaval of their everyday lives.