Conflict Alerts # 612, 8 March 2024
Navinan GV In the news
On 7 March, the government in Haiti extended the state of emergency for another month. On 3 March, after gangs stormed the country's two biggest jails and freed nearly 3,700 inmates, the Haitian government declared a 72-hour state of emergency and a night curfew.
On 6 March, Jimmy Cherizier, leader of the G9 gang, warned of a civil war and "genocide" if Haitian PM Ariel Henry did not step down. Al Jazeera quoted him to have stated: "If Ariel Henry doesn't resign, if the international community continues to support him, we'll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide." The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, described the situation in the country as "beyond untenable" and asked the international community to "act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti's further descent into chaos." A statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, "Haiti is facing a complex humanitarian and protection crisis. Every time violence breaks out, thousands of people fall into precarious situations and need emergency aid. Humanitarian organizations need unhindered access to the most vulnerable populations. Beyond humanitarian aid, Haiti needs greater international solidarity at this crucial time."
On 5 March, Henry arrived in Puerto Rico after his flight was denied entry into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Minister of Finance Patrick Boisvert has been acting as prime minister while Henry remained overseas to get support for a UN-backed mission to help control the situation in the country. Boisvert stated that the "police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders."
On 4 March, gangs attacked the airport to prevent Henry and a multinational force from entering the country.
On 1 March, Kenyan President William Ruto signed a "reciprocal" agreement with Haiti's PM Henry to deploy Kenyan police who would lead a UN-backed mission in Haiti. The two leaders "discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment." On 26 February, the Bahamian Prime Minister, Philip Davis, stated that "Haiti is haemorrhaging" due to a "truly terrible" security situation. The Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, asserted that the world needed to "act quickly to alleviate the suffering" of the Haitians.
Issues at large
First, the gangs of Haiti. The emergence of gangs in Haiti dates back to the Tonton Macoute, a paramilitary force established by former Haitian President François Duvalier in the 1950s and 1960s. The Tonton Macoute was used to suppress political opposition and maintain Duvalier's power. Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide created armed groups to protect his political interests. These groups later morphed into gangs that control much of Haiti today, including G-Pep and G9, which fight for control of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. The gangs have since expanded their territories; according to the UN, 200 gangs operate across Haiti, with around 95 in the capital alone. Recently, their control over the capital increased from 60 to 80 per cent, according to UN officials.
Second, the independence of the gangs and the weak state. The gangs have access to weapons and are financially independent, which seems to be the main source of their power. On 1 March, a UN report highlighted that a network of criminal actors, including some from Haiti, "often source firearms from across the US" and illegally smuggle them from the Dominican Republic. The gangs abduct civilians and demand ransom, making them financially independent and increasing their power. On the other hand, the police force is outnumbered and underfunded, resulting in fewer people and weapons. Gangs have become the source of authority in most parts of Haiti, increasing their presence and power.
Third, hesitant international response. Despite multiple calls from Haiti for international support, there needs to be more support to support the state and augment its ability to counter the gangs. At the regional level, in January 2024, a Kenyan High Court blocked the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti by ruling it unconstitutional, further delaying the deployment of the multinational security support mission. On 28 February, a four-day regional summit of Caribbean leaders ended, wherein they stated that Henry had agreed to hold general elections by mid-2025. In February, the US government stated that to restore peace to Haiti, it was willing to supply money, equipment, and logistical support to a multinational force. According to Bahamian Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, the international community had pledged more than USD 100 million for the Haiti mission, with the US contributing an additional USD 200 million; however, the UN claimed that less than USD 11 million was received as of 5 March.
In perspective
Haiti faces four challenges – political legitimacy, weak institutions, strong gangs and lack of international support. Unfortunately, there is no light at the end of the tunnel on all four challenges. Despite the US asking Prime Minister Henry to make the governance inclusive, he is less likely to pursue that option. Weak institutions and strong gangs in Haiti have created a negative loop that makes the former weaker and the latter stronger. Haiti needs immediate support from the region and the rest of the world; unfortunately, it is not likely to happen in the immediate future. This means further instability in Haiti.