Haitian gangs now control nearly 90 percent of Port‑au‑Prince, triggering international alarm and a desperate scramble for reinforcements to prevent a complete state collapse.
At a Glance
- U.N. officials report gangs governing almost all of Haiti’s capital.
- Kenya leads an under-resourced Multinational Security Support mission.
- Gangs have disrupted schools, utilities, and basic services.
- Haitian drone strikes have killed over 300 gang members since March.
- The U.S. is exploring a Latin American troop deployment amid UN Security Council deadlock.
Urban Anarchy Invites International Alarm
U.N. representatives told the Security Council that gangs now effectively govern most of Port‑au‑Prince, controlling hospitals, schools, and the water supply while deeply eroding public confidence in the transitional government. They warned that “point of no return” conditions are emerging without reinforced international support (UN’s warning on gang control).
To counter the surge, Kenya leads a U.N.-mandated Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. However, deployment has fallen well short of its goals, with fewer than 1,000 troops on the ground—less than half the intended force—and minimal equipment capacity. Mission commander Godfrey Otunge has described “critical shortfalls” that threaten every phase of operations (troop and gear shortages).
Haitian authorities have turned to drone strikes in an attempt to disrupt gang strongholds. Since March, FPV drones, some deployed by foreign contractors, have reportedly eliminated over 300 gang members and wounded more than 400. Drone action has temporarily reopened schools and banks in cleared districts but raised serious questions about civilian safety and oversight (drone campaign scrutiny).
Watch a report: UN Requests Backup as Haiti Gangs Seize Capital
https://apnews.com/video/zoo-animals-in-france-and-italy-cool-off-with-frozen-treats-as-heatwave-persists-9e5cfde7d6c44f99b294ab8e25d1f9ca
Regional Forces Step In While U.S. Weighs Role
With the Security Council stalemated by vetoes, the U.S. is considering an Organization of American States mission led by Latin American countries to bolster the MSS. Talks include Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, though no formal mandate or funding has been confirmed (OAS troop plan under review).
Haiti’s political structures remain deeply fragile. Since President Moïse’s assassination in 2021, successive caretaker regimes and a Transitional Presidential Council have held little authority. Their weakness enabled mass jailbreaks, airport sieges, and the rapid spread of gang-controlled territory in 2024—all of which prompted the MSS deployment (Moïse aftermath context).
The Dominican Republic and Kenya have jointly appealed for urgent funding and logistical support, warning that without sustained international backing, the MSS could collapse. Meanwhile, the U.S. designation of major Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations was intended to stem external arms flows but has also raised concerns over its impact on humanitarian efforts (DR-Kenya funding plea).
Port‑au‑Prince teeters on the edge: unless drone strikes, regional troops, and global financial aid arrive swiftly, gangs could entrench armed rule and derail any hope for elections in 2026.
