The Haitian National Police Says It Has Regained Control of Several Strategic Areas in Downtown Port-au-Prince

.— The Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by the Task Force deployed as part of joint operations, launched a major offensive against armed groups of the criminal coalition «Viv Ansanm», allowing the recapture of several territories located in the heart of the capital. The operations, conducted on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, notably led to the recapture of Marché Salomon as well as several strategic road axes.

By Newsroom · Port-au-Prince
25 January 2026 · 2 min read · Updated 24 April 2026

Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— The Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by the Task Force deployed as part of joint operations, launched a major offensive against armed groups of the criminal coalition «Viv Ansanm», allowing the recapture of several territories located in the heart of the capital. The operations, conducted on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, notably led to the recapture of Marché Salomon as well as several strategic road axes.

According to police sources, law enforcement regained control of areas long occupied by criminal groups, including Alexandre, Féquière, Déroux, and Nicolas streets, considered critical points for arms trafficking, extortion, and clandestine circulation. This advance constitutes a significant episode in the offensive strategy aimed at dismantling the gangs' grip on key downtown sectors, regularly paralyzed by insecurity.

During the interventions, heavy exchanges of fire pitted the engaged units against members of the «Viv Ansanm» coalition entrenched in the area. Targeted drone strikes were also mobilized to neutralize armed elements, security authorities indicated. The operations cleared several traffic routes previously obstructed or damaged by barricades and criminal devices.

The PNH presents these advances as a step in a broader plan for the sustainable restoration of state authority in the capital's strategic neighborhoods. Following the recapture, law enforcement and surveillance measures were quickly deployed to prevent any attempt at reoccupation by gangs, a scenario frequently observed during previous operations.

Determined to retake all territories under criminal control, the PNH and the Task Force are already announcing new operations in areas identified as strongholds or hideouts for armed groups. The stated objective is to restore security, free movement, and economic activities in central Port-au-Prince, which has been the scene of intermittent fighting for several months.

Jean Mapou / Le Relief