Violence in Haiti: A continuation of politics by other means?

Haiti has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis since gangs began attacking the capital, Port-au-Prince, on 29 February 2024. This has had dramatic humanitarian consequences and direct political repercussions. The country’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, resigned on 11 March, and the transitional presidential council, a body set up by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to fill the void, is still not operational.

The current crisis is part of an ongoing, alarming deterioration in the country’s security situation. According to the UN, the Haiti’s homicide rate in 2023 was 40.9 per 100 000 inhabitants, more than double the rate in 2022. Despite the central role played by gangs in Henry’s ousting and the levels of violence observed, the current crisis is not one of gangs seizing power. Rather, it is a case of gangs overthrowing the government, allegedly with the support of political and economic backers.

Read the full GITOC article