Nearly a year after Kenyan police officers landed in Haiti to help restore order, gangs now control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving residents trapped in fear and chaos.
The city, home to over 2.5 million people, has turned into a patchwork of gang-run zones where law and order have collapsed. The country’s interim leaders remain confined to Pétion-Ville, a wealthy hillside neighborhood, while much of the city suffers daily violence.
Residents say gangs have taken over entire blocks, torching buildings and looting businesses. “They come at night to steal and burn. We’re caught in the middle,” one business owner told The Financial Times, as he prepared to flee the city with his family.
Despite nearly 1,000 Kenyan officers deployed under the UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, their presence is barely felt. Self-defense groups some led by local police are often the only barrier between the gangs and total collapse.
Drones have been used to strike gang strongholds, but Haiti’s finance minister says real progress needs boots on the ground. “Drones help, but we need thousands more security forces to truly take back control,” said Alfred Métellus.
Meanwhile, gang leaders like Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier now demand a role in national talks. “If we’re not at the table, we’ll keep fighting,” he warned.
With over 5,600 murders reported in 2024 and millions facing food insecurity, Haiti’s crisis deepens—and hope remains elusive.
