Gang Violence Forces Evacuations in Haiti
On Monday, hundreds of refugees were forced to leave their homes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as a new surge of gang violence erupted. The situation has spiraled into chaos, with hospitals shutting down, Médecins Sans Frontières ceasing its humanitarian efforts, and Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Eme canceling plans for the first presidential election in ten years.
The aftermath of the recent waves of violence can be traced back to the ongoing issues Haiti has faced since the assassination of president Jovenel Moïse. Presently, the government maintains control of only a small section of Port-au-Prince, while gangs dominate rural areas, committing acts of pillaging, murder, and sexual violence.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that since the assassination in October 2025, over 1.4 million people have been displaced due to gang violence. Interestingly, a significant number of those forced from their homes in the latter half of 2025 came from rural regions, rather than just the capital.
The recent uptick in violence seems to be fueled by turf conflicts between rival armed groups within Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil and Croix des Bouquets districts. Fighting intensively began on Sunday morning, leading terrified residents to flee under the cover of darkness that night.
Médecins Sans Frontières has stated that their staff had to evacuate the Cité Soleil hospital due to an influx of gunshot victims and those seeking safety. In a span of just 12 hours, MSF treated over 40 individuals with gunshot wounds. Tragically, a security guard was even struck by a stray bullet on hospital grounds.
Hospitals in the vicinity announced the cancellation of surgeries and the evacuation of patients. According to MSF, by Monday, none of the hospitals in Cité Soleil were operational.
In Croix-des-Bouquets, intense fighting was reported following a fire that intentionally targeted sugar cane fields owned by the historic Rhum Barbancourt distillery. Local businesses expressed concern for their safety, sending urgent letters to the Prime Minister asking for police protection and road repairs. However, these requests have gone unanswered, even as unrest threatens to close the Toussaint Louverture International Airport permanently.
Delphine Gardere, CEO of Rhum Barbancourt, shared a video depicting families fleeing the conflict, labeling the situation as “unbearable.” She pointed out that civilians are suffering from stray bullets while entire communities are engulfed in fear. The concerns raised seemed to echo throughout local businesses.
Observers noted that gang violence has escalated as smaller groups have united to challenge larger gangs for control over lucrative territories. The delay in reinforcements to the United Nations anti-gang unit has provided an opening for these gangs to expand their power.
Moreover, some speculate that the increase in violence may be aimed at intimidating the government, potentially delaying electoral processes. As a result, Prime Minister Fils-Eme announced that elections would be postponed by at least six months. He acknowledged that security conditions are insufficient for elections to proceed as initially planned.
Haiti’s last presidential election was held in 2016 and was marred by various challenges and delays. There has been unrest since then, leading to governance by decree in recent times.
As for the UN’s security assignment in Haiti, it marks the tail end of a limited presence of Kenyan police. Originally, Kenya had promised to dispatch 1,000 officers but sent fewer than 800 instead. The total budget allocated for this mission was $600 million, with only about $400 million actually funded, primarily from U.S. support.
The recent withdrawal of Kenyan forces ushers in a new phase for the UN mission, with expectations to bring in around 5,500 personnel. Yet, only about 400 from Chad have arrived, and it’s uncertain when additional forces will come to reinforce the peacekeeping efforts.
