Haiti’s Capital Under Siege: Gangs Hold Near-Total Control, U.N. Warns

Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is choking under the grip of criminal gangs, with the United Nations sounding alarms over their near-total control of the city. Senior U.N. officials report that roughly 90% of the capital is now under gang rule, a stranglehold that’s tightening by the day, pushing the Caribbean nation to the edge of collapse. Ghada Fathy Waly, head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, revealed that gangs are not just holding the capital hostage but are spreading their influence into once-peaceful southern regions and exploiting eastern land routes, attacking police and customs officials at key crossings like Belladere and Malpasse.

The chaos has deepened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, leaving Haiti without a president and its security forces in disarray. Gangs, now controlling more territory than ever, thrive amid political turmoil and allegations of corruption within transitional governing bodies. A new U.N. report spanning October to February paints a grim picture: competing political factions and a disorganized response have allowed gangs to seize additional revenue streams and bargaining power, often backed by shadowy figures aiming to derail Haiti’s fragile political transition.

Miroslav Jenca, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General, warned that the gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince risks a total collapse of state presence without urgent international action. The U.S. has responded by labeling two major gangs, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations in May, while a September 2024 travel advisory urged Americans to steer clear of Haiti due to rampant kidnapping, crime, and unrest. As gangs tighten their chokehold, Haiti teeters on the brink, with the international community facing a race against time to prevent a full descent into lawlessness.