Over the past decade, Haitians have been held captive by a political leadership beholden to gangs. Former President Michel Martelly had extensive ties to drug dealers, money launderers, and gang leaders. Under his successor and protégé, Jovenel Moïse, senior government officials helped plan and supply attacks by a police officer-turned-gang leader named Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, who later became a leader of the G-9 Family and Allies gang alliance that now controls much of Port-au-Prince.
When Moïse was assassinated in July 2021, the international community backed Ariel Henry to become prime minister, despite concerns about Henry’s relationship with a key suspect in the assassination. Unelected and unpopular, Henry lacks the will to rein in gangs—and at least one gang leader, Vitelhomme Innocent, has boasted about his ties to Henry. (Henry has not addressed the allegations.)
Under Henry, gang violence has terrorized and paralyzed the country, making it less safe and less governable. Haiti is also poorer and hungrier; nearly half of Haitians lack access to sufficient food. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti reported a doubling in gang killings, attacks, and kidnappings in the first three months of 2023
