Haiti’s New Shoestring Strategy Against Gang Violence

Haiti allocates a modest $275,000 “war budget” to battle devastating gang violence that has overtaken most of the capital and central towns, leaving officials struggling to establish control with limited resources.

Quick Takes

Haiti’s government approved a $275,000 “war budget” with nearly 40% allocated to police and military efforts against armed gangs that now control 85% of Port-au-Prince.
About 20% of funds will fortify the border with the Dominican Republic, while 16% supports social programs including education, health, and humanitarian aid.
Recent gang attacks on towns like Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau resulted in at least 60 deaths, burned police stations, and mass prison breaks.
Human rights organizations criticize the government’s inadequate response, as communities’ pleas for protection have gone largely unheard.
The UN-backed Kenyan police mission is struggling against entrenched gang violence that has killed over 1,500 people between January and March 2023 alone.

Haiti’s Desperate Attempt to Reclaim Control

The Haitian government has approved a “war budget” of $275,000 to combat the escalating gang violence ravaging the Caribbean nation. This funding allocation comes as armed criminal groups have seized control of approximately 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have recently mounted successful takeovers of towns in the country’s central region. Almost 40% of this emergency budget will go toward police and military operations, highlighting the security-focused approach being taken in response to the crisis that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over a million Haitians in recent years.

An additional 20% of the budget is earmarked for strengthening Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic, addressing concerns about cross-border criminal activities and illegal movement. Meanwhile, 16% will support critical social programs focused on education, health services, and humanitarian assistance for affected communities. The financial commitment, though modest by international standards, represents the transitional government’s acknowledgment of the dire security situation that has intensified since late January, when gangs killed over 260 people in the capital.

Central Towns Fall to Gang Control

The towns of Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau in Haiti’s central region have fallen to the gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm in early April, demonstrating the expanding reach of criminal organizations beyond the capital. The violent takeovers forced police and prison staff to abandon their posts, resulting in a security vacuum that allowed for mass prison breaks and further destabilization. The attacks resulted in at least 60 deaths, including gang members, escaped inmates, two nuns, and a police officer, while two journalists remain missing.

According to the National Human Rights Defense Network, “Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates.”

Local communities and self-defense groups had repeatedly warned authorities about impending attacks, but their pleas were largely ignored. The National Human Rights Defense Network has strongly criticized the government’s lack of strategic response to protect vulnerable towns. Some analysts suggest that Saut-d’Eau’s fall on April 3 may have been facilitated by the redeployment of law enforcement personnel to Mirebalais, leaving the second town exposed to attack—a tactical failure that highlights the limitations of Haiti’s security resources.

UN Mission Struggles Amid Mounting Casualties

The UN-backed security mission led by Kenyan police officers is facing significant challenges due to insufficient resources and the overwhelming strength of gang forces. From January 1 to March 27 alone, more than 1,500 people were killed and 572 injured due to gang violence across Haiti. The human toll continues to rise as gangs expand their territorial control beyond Port-au-Prince, attacking areas in Kenscoff and Carrefour in addition to the central region towns.

The humanitarian consequences of this prolonged violence have been devastating, with the United Nations reporting that over one million people have been rendered homeless in recent years. The new “war budget” allocation represents an attempt to address this spiraling crisis, but many experts question whether $275,000 will be sufficient to make a meaningful impact against well-armed gang coalitions that have demonstrated their ability to overrun government forces. As Haiti’s government struggles to establish control, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence with limited protection from authorities.