Eric Prince’s Company to Deploy in Haiti for Ten Years

Eric Prince, a military executive known for his close ties to President Donald Trump, is preparing to send his civilian troops to Haiti for a decade, according to Reuters. His company, Vectus Global, will assist the Haitian government in enhancing security and restructuring its tax revenue systems through a ten-year contract.

Haiti has been grappling with an intense gang conflict for the last five years, with gangs exerting control over as much as 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. “One key indicator of success for me is when I can drive a Haitian to a location in a modest vehicle from Port-au-Prince without being stopped by gangs,” Prince shared in a Reuters interview. However, he did not disclose how much the Haitian government would pay for his services.

Prince, who has a background as a former Navy Seal and is the founder of Blackwater Worldwide, describes his private military company as capable of deploying helicopters, snipers, and other resources against gangs. Interestingly, he has had a longstanding friendship with Trump, and this relationship was highlighted when the president faced charges related to an incident involving an Iraqi civilian in 2007.

In a recent uptick in violence, more than 250 people were killed in gang-related incidents from January to March this year in Haiti’s capital, with many more injured and displaced, according to UN data cited by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

A senior official from the White House has distanced the administration from the agreement, stating that the U.S. government is “not involved” in the operation. Meanwhile, the State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of the notorious gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Sherizier, who reportedly finances his activities through contributions from Haitians living in the U.S.

As of now, Vectus Global has not responded to requests for comments.