How Haiti’s New Crisis Traces to Growing Power of Gangs

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas and just 700 miles from Florida, has been mired in political turmoil and violence for decades. But the situation has deteriorated dramatically since the 2021 murder of President Jovenel Moise thrust Prime Minister Ariel Henry into power. Now, powerful gangs have taken over large swathes of the nation, freeing thousands of prison inmates and driving up homicide and kidnapping rates in a country where almost half the population goes hungry. With elections long overdue and the chaos growing, Henry has agreed to step down and make way for a transitional government.

While gangs have existed in Haiti for decades, they’ve grown powerful amid government and private-sector complicity. Today, they control about 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince and large parts of the countryside. Most recently, they stepped up attacks in the capital shortly after Henry traveled on Feb. 25 to Guyana to meet with Caribbean leaders and then to Kenya to build support for a multinational security force. During that trip, Henry suggested that long-overdue elections might not take place until 2025. The gangs, along with much of the political opposition, view Henry as an illegitimate leader and are demanding a change of government.