What’s behind the recent spike in gang violence in Haiti's capital?

Between 9 and 11 May, the UN reported that at least 78 people were killed and more than 5,300 residents were displaced in an outbreak of gang violence in Cité Soleil and Croix-des-Bouquets. The clashes saw allied gangs fight each other over control of the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, a strategic area north of the capital Port-au-Prince. Doctors Without Borders was forced to suspend activities at its nearby Cité Soleil hospital.

Sandra Pellegrini, Latin America & the Caribbean Senior Analyst at ACLED, said:  

“It is not uncommon for clashes between gangs to occur, but this case stands out for its level of intensity and duration. The violence pitted the 400 Mawozo, Chyen Mechan and Taliban gangs against the Pierre VI and Terre Noire gangs. These are all gangs that form part of Viv Ansanm, a gang alliance that was shaped in September 2023, and has since become the most powerful gang coalition in the country. 

“Since Viv Ansanm consolidated its power in February 2024, gang-on-gang clashes have become less frequent. That makes this latest set of infighting especially notable. But it is unlikely that these clashes will lead to a collapse of Viv Ansanm at this stage. Gangs are likely to preserve their resources ahead of the full deployment of the Gang Suppression Force, a UN-backed mission intended to neutralize the gangs. The fighting does highlight the fragile nature of territorial arrangements within the alliance, especially among groups operating in close proximity and competing over the same sources of revenue. 

“Ultimately, civilians are the most affected by gang rivalries and escalating violence. They are often caught in the crossfire or deliberately targeted by rival gangs. Many are also unable to return home, as gangs have increasingly relied on scorched-earth tactics in recent years to expand territorial control.”