Haiti–Security: Targeted Force and Dialogue: Crisis Group's Dual Strategy to Dismantle Gangs

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— In a report published on December 15, 2025, titled «Dismantling Haiti's Deadly Gang Alliance», the International Crisis Group recommends a dual-pronged approach to address the chronic insecurity plaguing the country. The organization advocates for a combination of targeted security operations and a structured opening to dialogue, to sustainably dismantle armed groups.

According to Crisis Group, the use of force remains essential to re-establish a balance of power favorable to the State. However, this action must be accompanied, when conditions are met, by a structured dialogue with gang leaders and members willing to lay down their arms. Objective: to prevent the rapid reconstitution of criminal networks and break cycles of violence.

The protection of civilians, particularly forcibly recruited minors, is central to the recommendations. The organization urges the Gang Repression Force (FRG) and Haitian authorities to guarantee safe exit routes, implement reintegration programs, and strengthen coordination with international partners. It also advocates for the reconstitution of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (CNDDR), dissolved in recent years.

The report identifies the criminal coalition Viv Ansanm as the main current security threat. Since February 2024, this alliance has multiplied coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince and extended its control to several regions of the country. It is estimated to have between 12,000 and 20,000 members, including approximately 3,000 heavily armed. Formerly instruments of political and economic interests, gangs have become autonomous actors, profiting from diversified criminal activities such as kidnappings, racketeering, drug trafficking, and arms dealing.

The human toll is alarming. Between January and September 2025, over 4,000 people were killed in gang-related violence, while approximately 1.4 million Haitians have been displaced. In 2024, the country recorded over 5,600 homicides, a historic record.

Faced with this situation, Crisis Group calls for an urgent strategic shift: striking criminal networks, protecting populations, and, where possible, opening credible channels for dialogue, without abandoning justice. An approach deemed risky, but necessary to hope for a lasting resolution to the security crisis.

Jean Mapou