Haiti in 2025 stands on the brink of collapse, with armed gangs dominating much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in a spiraling conflict that has plunged the nation into anarchy. The Haiti conflict, rooted in decades of political instability, has escalated into a near-civil war state, where gang violence dictates daily life, drug trafficking fuels the chaos, and the Haitian National Police (HNP) struggle to maintain control. Despite UN intervention efforts, the situation remains dire, with over a million displaced and thousands killed. This article delves into the ongoing gang violence in Port-au-Prince, the role of drug trafficking, the impact of anarchy, and the challenges facing UN intervention as Haiti grapples with an uncertain future.
Gang Violence: Port-au-Prince Under Siege
The streets of Port-au-Prince have become a battleground, with armed gangs controlling an estimated 85% of the capital in 2025. The Viv Ansanm coalition, formed in February 2024 by the previously rival G9 and G-Pep gangs, has intensified its grip, launching coordinated attacks on civilian infrastructure, police stations, and even upscale neighborhoods like Pétion-Ville, once considered a safe haven. In December 2024, the gang massacred over 207 people in the Wharf Jérémie neighborhood of Cité Soleil, targeting elderly residents accused of voodoo practices in a brutal five-day assault. The violence has not spared other regions, with massacres in Pont Sondé and Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite claiming over 170 lives in the same month. These attacks highlight the gangs’ growing audacity, as they outnumber and outgun the HNP, often armed with sophisticated weapons like high-caliber Barrett rifles, trafficked primarily from the United States.
Anarchy in the Capital: A State on the Brink
Haiti’s descent into anarchy has been marked by the near-total collapse of state authority in Port-au-Prince. Gangs have not only seized territory but have also begun to govern, extracting “protection” fees, controlling access to major roads, and even dictating movement between neighborhoods. The Viv Ansanm coalition has blockaded key chokepoints, isolating the capital and strangling supply chains, which has led to the closure of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport after gangs shot at commercial aircraft. This has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with over one million Haitians displaced—60,000 in just one month between February and March 2025 alone. The Haitian government, led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, has been unable to stem the tide, with the judicial system paralyzed and investigations into massacres stalling. The absence of elected leadership since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has left a power vacuum, allowing gangs to operate with impunity.
Drug Trafficking: Fueling the Violence
Drug trafficking has emerged as a significant driver of gang violence in Haiti, transforming Port-au-Prince into a key transit hub for narcotics moving from South America to the United States and beyond. Gangs like 400 Mawozo and Village de Dieu profit heavily from the trade, using the proceeds to purchase weapons and expand their influence. A small, entrenched network of former military personnel, law enforcement officers, and politicians has facilitated this trade since the 1980s, creating a web of corruption that undermines efforts to restore order. The influx of illicit arms, often smuggled through routes like Cap-Haïtien and the Dominican Republic, has further emboldened gangs, with operations like the Dominican Republic’s Pandora uncovering the diversion of 900,000 rounds of ammunition into illegal markets. This cycle of drugs, arms, and violence has entrenched gang power, making them not just criminals but de facto power brokers in Haiti’s fractured political landscape.
UN Intervention: A Struggling Response
The international community has attempted to address the Haiti conflict through UN intervention, but the efforts have fallen short. In October 2023, the UN Security Council authorized a Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to assist the HNP in curbing gang violence. By January 2025, the mission had deployed 800 troops, including Kenyan police, Jamaican soldiers, and Salvadoran airmen, but the force remains understaffed and underfunded, with only $101.1 million pledged against a needed $674 million. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in January 2025 that without additional support, gangs could overrun Port-au-Prince entirely, leading to a complete breakdown of government authority. The mission has faced significant challenges, with two Kenyan officers seriously injured in clashes in late March 2025, and gangs like Viv Ansanm openly opposing foreign intervention. Haiti’s Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean Baptiste has called for a full UN peacekeeping mission, arguing that the current force is insufficient to tackle the “existential threat” posed by gangs.
Humanitarian Crisis: The Human Toll of Chaos
The gang violence and anarchy in Port-au-Prince have triggered a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. Over 5,600 people were killed in 2024 alone, with 4,239 deaths and 1,356 injuries reported between July 2024 and February 2025, 92% attributed to gun violence. Sexual violence has become a weapon of control, with 94 cases of rape and exploitation documented in the last quarter of 2024, often targeting women and girls in gang-controlled areas. Children are also victims, with a 70% increase in forced recruitment, some as young as eight years old, used for kidnappings, extortion, and armed confrontations. The displacement crisis has overwhelmed host communities, with 5.5 million Haitians facing acute food insecurity and 6,000 in famine-like conditions. Half of the capital’s health facilities are non-functional, and 500,000 displaced children face malnutrition, with a quarter suffering from stunted growth.
The Path Forward: Can Haiti Be Saved?
As of April 7, 2025, Haiti teeters on the edge of total collapse, with gang violence, drug trafficking, and anarchy threatening to erase what remains of state authority in Port-au-Prince. The UN intervention, while a step in the right direction, lacks the resources and personnel to make a significant dent in gang control. The international community faces a dilemma: a full-scale peacekeeping mission could provide the necessary muscle, but historical interventions, like the MINUSTAH mission from 2004 to 2017, have left Haitians wary of foreign involvement due to past abuses. Meanwhile, the HNP’s complicity in extrajudicial killings—219 documented in 2024—underscores the need for accountability and reform within Haiti’s security forces. Without addressing the root causes, such as corruption, arms trafficking, and the drug trade, the cycle of violence will persist. For the people of Port-au-Prince, caught between gang rule and a faltering state, the hope for peace remains a distant dream amidst the chaos of 2025.