More than 2000 people have been killed in the first half of 2023 due to gang related violence in Haiti, according to the United Nations.
Since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has seen a surge in gang related violence due to political instability.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry who is the country’s Acting President is grappling to bring political stability which has seen many of the country’s armed forces either fleeing the country or joining the more than 150 gangs.
To date, Haiti is currently on airplane mode with no elected members of the House or Senate.
“Urgent action is needed to address the extreme levels of violence and the palpable fear, hunger, and sense of abandonment that so many Haitians experience today. International security support may be needed, but it will likely only help with a new transitional Government in place and as part of a multi-faceted response with robust human rights safeguards.
The ongoing legacies of past abusive foreign interventions in Haiti should not be an excuse for inaction. It should instead be a call to action to right past wrongs and to support Haitian efforts towards true democratic governance, respect for basic human rights, and an end to the deadly cycles of violence and abuse,” said Nathalye Cotrino, Crisis and Conflict Researcher at Human Rights Watch.
In addition, Cotrino said many of the gangs are alleged to have ties with senior political officials, economic actors, and police officers. Based on available information, there have been no prosecutions or convictions of those responsible for killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence, or their supporters, since the start of 2023.
The UN Seretary-General is due to present options in the coming days to the UN Security Council for the deployment of a consensual international force to Haiti to help restore security, following a request from the Prime Minister, and Kenya has offered to take the lead and provide 1000 Police officers for a multinational force.
