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Situation in Haiti
- An attack by gangs took place in Badio, Kenscoff, on 4 March. The assailants dug trenches to impede police vehicles from accessing the area. Several people were kidnapped during the attack.
- A new unit comprising agents from the Prime Minister’s Security Unit (USPM) and agents from the National Palace General Security Unit (USGPN) has been established to fight the gangs.
- The unit carried out an operation in Delmas on 1 March in the stronghold of the “Viv Ansanm” coalition. Several gang members were killed during the operation.
- Haitian Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, stated that other similar operations are taking place to ensure that displaced persons can return home and security can be reestablished, to allow elections to be organised.
- The leader of the “Viv Ansanm” Coalition, Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue”, escaped the police operation. He denied rumours of being injured in a drone attack, vowing a “proportional” response and downplaying the operation’s scale.
- Armed gangs launched a deadly attack in Port-au-Prince’s Delmas 30 on 25 February, killing residents and causing many to flee. Local residents and rights groups are struggling to cope as the gangs continue their unchecked rampage.
- Violent clashes erupted and barricades were set up in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas as criminal groups targeted several neighborhoods of Delmas and Lalue on 28 February, leading to panic and property damage.
- An attack took place against the Port-au-Prince Police Station in the vicinity of Champs de Mars in downtown Port-au-Prince on 27 February. The head of security of the National Palace was injured while rushing in to aid the police officers trapped inside the station.
- Armed groups control key areas of Port-au-Prince, making it nearly impossible for civilians to find safety. An International Organisation for Migration (IOM) worker emphasises the lack of resources to meet urgent needs, including food, shelter, and safety.
- Armed gangs intensified their attempts to expand from Gressier towards Léogâne on 24 February, leading to heavy gunfire, civilian casualties, and mass displacement in the La Colline area, with residents fleeing their homes and local activities paralyzed.
- An attack was carried out in Fort-National by gang members on 23 February. Three people were killed in the attack and several more were injured.
- The situation in Fort-National became increasingly dire over the past weeks as armed groups gained control, trapping residents and forcing many to flee to overcrowded displacement camps, while those who remained, face constant danger and a lack of support from authorities.
- The Minister of Public Health and Population inaugurated new health centers in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes and Carrefour Honore, highlighting the urgent need for improved healthcare infrastructure in Haiti.
Situation on the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT)
- Haiti’s transitional council has made little progress toward organising elections, further complicating the nation’s instability.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- A Kenyan police officer was fatally shot on 23 February during an operation against gangs in Haiti’s Artibonite region. The officer was part of the MSS mission sent to support Haiti’s weak law enforcement.
- UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, proposed opening a UN office to provide non-lethal support, including drones, transportation, managing sensitive information related to operations, and a joint operations centre, to the MSS mission in a letter to the UN Security Council.
International situation
- The European Union will disburse €19.5 million directly into Haiti’s state accounts for social protection needs, with an additional €30 million available based on performance, highlighting the importance of effective public financial management and technical coordination.
- The Dominican Republic has declared 26 Haitian gangs as criminal organisations, activating national security measures to prevent threats to its territory.
- The Dominican Republic announced the implementation of stricter measures at the Haitian border, with an increase in police operations in the area to reduce the rate of illegal migration from Haiti.
- The World Bank Group has approved a new strategic partnership for Haiti, providing $320 million in grants to enhance economic and social recovery, strengthen governance, and build resilience against shocks and natural disasters.
- A UN report highlighted how gangs in Haiti use social media and encrypted messaging platforms to spread messages, recruit members, and delegitimize social institutions, with some gang leaders reportedly offering gifts to influencers.
- The report also notes that Haiti lacks clear legislation on cybercrime, allowing gangs to operate online with impunity despite calls for action from authorities and civil society.
- During the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, on 19 February, UN Secretary-General Guterres urged CARICOM to back a UN-funded force for Haiti.
Links of interest
Nouvel assaut des bandits et enlèvements à Kenscoff
Lutte contre l’insécurité : une nouvelle task force frappe le fief de “Barbecue” à Delmas
Haiti – FLASH : Barbecue also threatens to use drones with explosives (Video)
Haiti gangs launch deadly attack on capital’s Delmas neighborhood
Les groupes criminels intensifient les attaques sur la région métropolitaine
Criminal Groups Attack Champ de Mars, National Palace Security Chief Shot
First Person: Voices of the forgotten in Haiti, ‘crying out in the silence of distress’
Haiti police raid gang leader’s stronghold in capital
Gressier : les bandits armés repassent à l’offensive
Nouvelle attaque de bandits à Fort-National : au moins trois morts enregistrés
Fort-National résiste, mais jusqu’à quand ?
Healthcare in Haiti: One Problem at Time
Kenyan police officer sent to Haiti to help rein in violent gangs is killed in fighting
UN chief details his proposal to help mission in Haiti fight gangs in a letter obtained by AP
EU Grants €19.5 Million in Budgetary Support to Haiti
26 gangs déclarés « organisations terroristes » par la République dominicaine
La République dominicaine renforce sa frontière avec Haïti
World Bank Announces New Strategy for Haiti
L’ONU pointe du doigt dans un rapport les cadeaux offerts par un chef de gangs à des influenceurs haïtiens
UN SG floats plan to defeat Haiti gangs
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