Haiti’s government mobilizes elite forces in response to a recent surge in gang violence

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haïti’s government has ordered the recall of hundreds of police officers and soldiers to deploy them into combat zones where the struggle for security against gangs is most acute. Announced on Monday, this decision aims to reassign elite units—originally tasked with protecting VIPs—to gang-controlled neighborhoods in response to escalating violence that has claimed multiple lives throughout October.

“Each member of these units must now contribute directly to the defense of our territory,” said Prime Minister Conille following an emergency high-level meeting with national security forces. “I firmly reaffirmed our position: we will not relinquish any strategic neighborhoods like Solino and other recently liberated areas. The safety of our fellow citizens is non-negotiable.”

This order, effective immediately, comes in response to a surge in gang attacks on residents in the Port-au-Prince neighborhoods of Solino and Tabarre, particularly during the Oct. 17 commemoration of the 218th anniversary of the assassination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Armed men engaged in violent actions across Port-au-Prince, with the localities of Solino and Tabarre 27  experiencing some of the most severe confrontations. Their actions have claimed lives on both sides, resulting in deaths among residents and gang members, alongside injuries to two police officers and two soldiers. Amidst this chaos, dozens of homes have been set ablaze

On Oct. 21, armed individuals in the Canaan neighborhood launched a renewed assault on the commune of Arcahaie, particularly targeting the locality of Bercy. In this brazen attack, the gang members strike the center of the town from both land and sea, burning homes and businesses. Local civilians and police in Arcahaie are desperately attempting to fend off the bandits, yet the insufficient number of police officers remains a significant hurdle.

In response to this alarming surge of armed individual attacks, government and police officials have mobilized resources to counter the advances of gangs determined to expand their territory in a capital where more than 80% is already under their influence.

“It is together, with the support of our allies, that we will succeed in restoring order and ensuring security for every Haitian,” says Conille. He indicated plans to meet with international partners to bolster the efforts of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) and the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH).

“I remain convinced that our victory against insecurity is imminent. We will not back down.”

Haitian Police ramp up assaults against gangs as residents plead for protection

In a statement on Oct. 20, the high command of the Haitian National Police (PNH) announced that several specialized units, supported by the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), are actively engaged in operations against the “criminal and terrorist gangs” that have besieged the Solino neighborhood.

The PNH confirmed that law enforcement interventions have successfully pushed gang members back to neighborhoods such as Saint-Michel, Paul Lauchard, Sylvio Cator, Anglade, and Corridor Bastia, effectively surrounding Solino.

“The Haitian National Police continues to maintain security measures while pursuing operations and police interventions to track down criminal and terrorist gangs,” the high command of the PNH said. “The Haitian National Police is more determined than ever to continue the relentless fight against organized crime across the national territory.”

“Each member of these units must now contribute directly to the defense of our territory,”

Prime Minister Garry Conille

On Oct. 21, in another statement, police authorities announced an increased presence in the commune of Tabarre, deploying agents to Carrefour Fleuriot and Tabarre 27, where gangs have torched numerous homes, displacing hundreds of residents. The PNH, in collaboration with the MSS, asserted that law enforcement has successfully repelled the gang members in Tabarre, allowing citizens to cautiously resume their daily lives.

Nevertheless, the situation remains tense. Gunfire from automatic weapons continues to echo daily, and residents are still fleeing in terror from gang violence. Many have resorted to sending SOS messages through social media, pleading for authorities to avert further bloodshed in their beleaguered neighborhoods.

Call for government unity and deployment of Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH) 

As gang attacks surge in many neighborhoods, forcing thousands into displacement camps, members of civil society organizations voice concern over a power struggle between the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and the government led by Conille. Jean-Robert Argant, the general coordinator of the December 4 Collective, condemns the conflict over the resignation of Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy, stating it benefits those opposed to restoring stability.

 “It is not in the country’s interest to have divisions between the two branches of executive power,” Argant said.

Argant and members of the Nou Pap Konplis collective emphasize the need for collaboration to address the urgent issues of insecurity and poverty, warning that continued divisions could jeopardize upcoming elections. 

Calls persist to deploy the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH) to bolster national security, with advocates arguing that the national police are ill-equipped to handle escalating violence and urging a unified approach to combat gang control.

In June 2024, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FADH) were called to enter a “Condition D,” indicating a heightened state of readiness where troops are prepared to respond swiftly to threats or emergencies. Despite this announcement, several observers note that nothing has been done and that the FADH is not fully engaged in restoring national security. 

“National security and territorial security are military matters, while the police handle public safety,” Argant explains while questioning why the Armed Forces cannot be adequately equipped and deployed fully across the national territory.

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Haiti’s government mobilizes elite forces in response to a recent surge in gang violence was first posted on October 23, 2024 at 7:45 am.