U.N. Reports on the Dire Situation in Haiti's Capital

Security forces, including Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, observed a commemoration for the first anniversary of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Port-au-Prince, sharing discussions with Mexico's representative, Jesus Cisneros.

The gangs of Haiti have nearly seized complete control over Port-au-Prince amid escalating violence, U.N. officials highlighted to the global assembly.

With an approximate 90% of the nation's capital under the influence of violent factions, attacks are spreading beyond the outskirts into formerly stable regions, stated Ghada Fathy Waly from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.

Waly explained that southern regions of Haiti, previously untouched by such turmoil, are now witnessing increased gang activities. In the eastern parts, criminal syndicates exploit land access points, engaging in assaults on law enforcement and custom agents in strategic areas like Belladere and Malpasse.

As gang rule grows, governmental authority is diminishing, leading to a void that’s being filled by alternative power structures. This has disrupted major trade paths, sending prices of essential goods such as cooking fuel and rice skyrocketing, according to Waly.

Miroslav Jenca from the U.N. warned that the relentless grip of gangs around Port-au-Prince risks triggering a full breakdown of governmental presence if global support isn't intensified.

The gangs' dominance, which increased after President Jovenel Moïse's murder in July 2021, has crept from 85% to almost complete, with Haiti still lacking a leading president post-assassination.

An international mission, spearheaded by Kenyan police, ventured to Haiti last year to combat gang aggression. Still, it remains understaffed, with only 40% of its intended personnel, despite Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' February push for comprehensive logistical aid from the U.N.

Waly noted that the rise in private security firms and local vigilante collectives reflects the desperation to shield communities. However, some of these groups blur lines between legal defense and unlawful collusion with gangs.

In recent months, vigilante groups are reported to have executed over 100 individuals on suspicion of gang affiliations, Miroslav Jenca mentioned, while also acknowledging a surge in gang-related sexual crimes, encompassing hundreds of documented cases.

A recent report highlights how gangs exploit the nation’s political confusion and fragmented response, compounded by conflicting political aims and corruption accusations, slowing crucial actions.

As gangs tighten their hold, largely for increased income and leverage, these moves also underscore efforts by certain stakeholders disrupting political transitions for selfish gains, as experts detailed.

The glaring lack of progression on Haiti's security restoration and election planning by 2026 reflects deeply rooted challenges, with multifaceted pressures facing the national police and a faltering military, highlighted experts said.

Wary of the vigilante efforts, experts emphasized the underscored involvement of local police within these groups, acknowledging human rights infringements linked to their actions.

The Haitian police have executed several extrajudicial actions, often leading to high-profile gang suspects being arbitrarily executed, accounting for 281 such cases by specialized units recently.

Despite an ongoing arms embargo, Haitian gangs continue acquiring advanced weapons from both regional civilian markets and local police supplies, including resources from neighbor Dominican Republic, experts noted.