Haiti’s Gang Problem: A Failure of Governance, Not Just Policing

The recent gang attack in Kenscoff, which left 47 people dead and over 50 kidnapped, has highlighted the woeful state of security in Haiti. This is not just a policing problem; it’s a symptom of deeper failures in governance.

Haiti’s national police have faced criticism for their inability to stem violent attacks by armed groups, which have become increasingly powerful since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021. According to UN estimates, more than 3,050 people were killed across the country between January and June alone, with gang-related violence spreading despite authorities’ efforts to intensify their anti-gang campaign.

The police’s response to the Kenscoff attack has been opaque, with spokesperson Garry Desrosiers offering few details about how they plan to respond. His statement that “we cannot talk about any plans” adds to the sense of disarray and incompetence. The threat by one gang leader to execute all hostages if any gang members are killed is a stark reminder of the dire situation on the ground.

The root cause of this crisis lies not with the police or gangs, but with the government’s failure to provide effective governance. Haiti has been without a functioning president since Moise’s assassination, and the last elected senators saw their terms expire in 2023. National elections have been repeatedly postponed due to security concerns, leaving a power vacuum that armed groups have exploited.

Haitian officials have attempted to justify violence as a consequence of political and economic instability. While this may be true to some extent, it’s also a cop-out – a way of avoiding responsibility for addressing underlying issues. The fact that an estimated 70 percent of Port-au-Prince is under gang control is a stark testament to the government’s inability to assert its authority.

The international community has criticized Haiti’s governance failures, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing optimism about the arrival of the Gang Suppression Force. However, critics argue that these efforts have had little success so far, drawing uncomfortable comparisons to previous foreign interventions in Haiti marred by rights abuses.

Resolving this crisis will require a fundamental shift in how Haiti’s government approaches security and governance. Simply throwing more police or troops at the problem is not enough; it requires addressing underlying issues of corruption, incompetence, and complicity with armed groups that have plagued the national police for years.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, one thing is clear: the international community cannot continue to stand by while Haiti descends further into chaos. It’s time for a more robust response – not just from external actors, but from Haitian leaders themselves who must take responsibility for addressing their country’s deep-seated problems.

The fate of Kenscoff and its residents serves as a stark reminder that the future of Haiti hangs in the balance. If nothing changes, we can expect more of the same – more violence, more displacement, and more suffering. It’s time for Haitian leaders to put aside their differences and work towards a solution that prioritizes the needs of their people above all else.