Haiti Tries Tackling Growing Gang Warfare Through Budget Reform

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Haiti approves a $275,000 “war budget” to combat escalating gang violence while gangs currently control 85% of the capital and have seized additional towns in the central region.

Key Takeaways

Haiti’s government has approved a $275,000 “war budget” with 40% allocated to police and military efforts against armed gangs threatening national stability.
About 20% of the budget is designated for strengthening the border with the Dominican Republic, while 16% will support social programs including education and healthcare.
Gangs now control at least 85% of Port-au-Prince and have recently expanded their territory by taking over towns in Haiti’s central region.
Between January and March 2024, more than 1,500 people were killed and 572 injured due to gang violence, with over 1 million people rendered homeless recently.
The UN-backed Kenyan police mission is struggling to help local authorities due to inadequate resources and growing gang influence.

Haiti’s Strategic War Budget Allocation

The Haitian government has approved a $275,000 emergency “war budget” to address the country’s rapidly deteriorating security situation. The strategic financial plan designates nearly 40% of funds to bolster police and military operations against violent gangs that have taken control of vast areas of the country. Another 20% is earmarked for securing the nation’s border with the Dominican Republic to prevent illegal cross-border activities that fuel the violence.

The budget also allocates 16% to support critical social services, including education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid for citizens caught in the conflict. This allocation reflects the government’s attempt to address both the immediate security threats and the underlying social conditions that contribute to instability in a country where violence has displaced more than one million people, according to UN estimates.

Gang Territory Expansion and Violence

Gang violence in Haiti has reached unprecedented levels, with armed groups now controlling approximately 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The crisis has recently intensified as gangs have expanded their territory beyond the capital into Haiti’s central region. The gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm has seized control of towns including Mirebalais and Saut-d’Eau, forcing police and prison staff to flee and orchestrating prison breaks that have further destabilized the region.

National Human Rights Defense Network said, “Armed gangs then set fire to the police station and took control of the prison, orchestrating a mass escape of the inmates.”

These coordinated attacks have resulted in at least 60 deaths, including gang members and escaped prisoners. The violence has been particularly brutal, with two nuns and one police officer killed during the gang offensive, while two journalists remain missing. In late January, a single gang attack in Haiti’s capital resulted in over 260 fatalities, with additional attacks occurring in the areas of Kenscoff and Carrefour.

Challenges in Response and Intervention

The UN-backed security mission led by Kenyan police faces significant challenges in supporting local authorities against the gangs. Despite their presence, the mission lacks sufficient resources to effectively combat the spread of gang violence across the country. Critics, including the National Human Rights Defense Network, have condemned what they describe as a slow and inadequate response from authorities to the deteriorating situation.

“By ignoring the (central region’s) collapse, the transitional authorities show they have no real plan to restore citizens’ rights and public safety,” the human rights group said.

Human rights organizations report that civilians and local self-defense groups repeatedly warned of imminent attacks, but these alerts went unheeded by government authorities. The fall of Saut-d’Eau to gangs on April 3 could have been prevented, according to activists who believe the redeployment of law enforcement to Mirebalais left the town vulnerable to attack. These tactical errors have further eroded public confidence in the government’s ability to address the security crisis effectively.