In Haiti, the number of identified gangs actively contributing to violence in 2023 nearly doubled since 2021. The prison breaks on 2 March and the escape of thousands of prisoners — including the jailed leaders of some of these gangs — raise concerns that new gangs may form or strengthen in an environment that already allows them to thrive. ACLED data indicate a 60% increase in violence involving gangs in 2023 compared to 2021; in the same period, according to the best estimate of ACLED’s Conflict Exposure calculator, the share of the population exposed directly to political violence rose to 66% from 57%.
The prison breaks appear coordinated between several of the largest gangs against acting President Ariel Henry’s rule. However, ACLED data suggest long-standing rivalries, the emergence of additional criminal formations, and their strengthening have driven a sustained increase in violence, especially since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021.
For more on the evolution of violence in Haiti in 2023 and security challenges in 2024, see ACLED’s Conflict Watchlist report on Haiti.
Visuals produced by Ciro Murillo
