UN report warns of expanding gang control and excessive force in Haiti

Deadly gangs in Haiti are extending their influence over critical sea and road routes, while security forces are being accused of using “unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force and summary executions,” according to a new UN human rights report released in Geneva.

At least 26 gangs operate in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, displacing 1.4 million people and contributing to thousands of deaths. Last year alone, more than 5,500 people died as a result of gang-related violence. Gangs have expanded beyond the capital into the Artibonite and Centre departments, fortifying strategic corridors that sustain their operations and financing. They continue to terrorize civilians through killings, kidnappings, extortion, theft, and property destruction. Victims perceived as defying gang authority have sometimes been executed and their bodies burned.

The report also highlights security force abuses, citing nearly 250 instances of summary executions or attempted killings of suspected gang members or supporters. Private military contractors, reportedly contracted by the Haitian government, have conducted drone strikes and helicopter operations that may constitute targeted killings, yet no judicial investigations have been opened. Self-defence groups and mobs armed with stones, machetes, and firearms have also engaged in vigilante justice, sometimes with police complicity.

The UN emphasized that while restoring security is vital, it must be accompanied by improvements in governance, justice, accountability, and social services. Sustained international support is essential to break the cycle of violence and stabilize the nation.

The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), established in 2025 with a mandate of 5,000 personnel, is expected to play a key role in these efforts. Earlier this month, Daniela Kroslak was appointed head of the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), which will provide logistical support to the GSF.