Violence in Haiti rises as gangs extend control over Port-au-Prince, U.N. reports alarming surge in killings and police abuse

In its latest update on conditions in Haiti on Wednesday, Oct. 31, the United Nations reported a 30% rise in violence from July to September, with over 1,740 people killed or injured amid escalating gang control over Port-au-Prince. This violence includes the deaths of children, kidnappings, and numerous extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by the Haitian police.

“Gangs increasingly claim roles typically assigned to the police and the judiciary while imposing their own rules,” the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said, according to the AP. 

The office emphasized that the absence of government control in many parts of Port-au-Prince has allowed gangs to fill the void, enforcing their authority and operating with near impunity. BINUH noted that gangs now control approximately 85% of the capital, up from 80% in the previous trimester.

In the third quarter, BINUH documented 1,223 killings, attributing most to gang violence. However, 106 extrajudicial killings were reportedly carried out by law enforcement, including those by the specialized units of the Haitian National Police (PNH). Children were among the victims, with six minors as young as 10 years old accused of sharing information with gang members before being killed. 

Jean Ernest Muscadin, the public prosecutor of Miragoâne, is also implicated in at least 10 extrajudicial killings, part of 36 such cases attributed to him since 2022, per the U.N. report​​​.

Children among victims and gang tactics

Children, especially vulnerable in the escalating conflict, faced alarming levels of violence. The United Nations reports that at least 59 minors were killed, injured, or abducted during the recent period. Many were also subjected to human trafficking, gang recruitment, and sexual violence. The U.N. expressed serious concern over the “continuing acts of sexual violence committed by gangs against women and girls” and pointed to the urgent need for protection in the absence of functional state institutions.

In addition to murder and kidnapping, gangs exploit children as human shields, block civilian escape routes, and target those attempting to flee gang-controlled zones.

The U.N. Security Council’s expert group on Haiti highlighted in their report released on Oct. 29 that gangs are adapting their tactics to counter law enforcement efforts. “To protect their territory, gangs dig trenches, erect barricades, use scouts and drones to monitor police movements, and prepare gas canisters and Molotov cocktails,” the U.N. experts state.

Although the U.N. Security Council recently tightened an arms embargo, illicit gun trafficking persists, with heavy-caliber weapons still entering the country. Gangs have reportedly launched a recruitment drive to expand their forces, adding to a planned total of 5,500 members. Many gangs now film their stockpiles of weapons and ammunition as intimidation tactics, further complicating security efforts, said the U.N. investigators.

International response and call for action

With the increased violence, the U.N. has underscored the urgency of deploying the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), a Kenyan-led international police force approved to support Haitian authorities. However, this mission is grappling with a need for more funding and personnel, prompting BINUH to renew its calls for more robust international intervention.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stressed the need for expedited deployment of the support mission on Wednesday. 

“Our colleagues’ data highlights the persistence of allegations of summary executions involving specialized units of the Haitian National Police,” Dujarric said.

“[the Mission] continues to call on the international community to keep Haiti on its agenda and to speed up the full and speedy deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission,” Dujarric continued while acknowledging that efforts by Haitian judicial authorities are beginning to address some of the impunity that fosters continued violence​​​.

Internal government tensions and frustrations

As gang violence escalates, tensions between the two transitional government branches are also causing concern. The Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) has called for a cabinet reshuffle, among other demands opposed by Prime Minister Conille, who leads the government.

In an Oct. 28 statement, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) warned that the political infighting could jeopardize the transition process needed to restore security and prepare for elections before February 7, 2026.

“This unseemly and distracting conflict is taking place at a time when insecurity and humanitarian crises are deteriorating severely,” CARICOM stated. 

“These differences…undermine confidence among Haiti’s partners and the wider international community, impeding critical assistance that Haiti urgently requires.”

During an intervention on Télé Métropole Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Dennis Hankins criticized the government’s internal conflicts, saying they “send a bad signal to the international community” and risk further destabilizing the country.

Several Haitian civil society leaders have voiced similar concerns, warning that the ongoing political discord may embolden gangs and derail the transition toward new leadership and the rule of law.

In this climate, Haitians continue to look for stability amid widespread insecurity, with hopes for effective change tempered by ongoing political divisions and an escalating humanitarian crisis.

The Haitian Times will continue to provide updates on these developments as they unfold, focusing on the Haitian diaspora’s calls for lasting security solutions in the country.

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Violence in Haiti rises as gangs extend control over Port-au-Prince, U.N. reports alarming surge in killings and police abuse was first posted on October 31, 2024 at 10:33 am.