UN officials warned on Wednesday that armed gangs have increased their control over the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, suggesting that a complete “collapse” of state authority in the city may be imminent.
“We have continued to witness a sharp erosion of state authority and the rule of law. Brutal gang violence affects every aspect of public and private life,” Miroslav Jenca, UN assistant secretary-general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, told a Security Council meeting.
According to them, despite their diligent efforts, local police and a multinational support mission led by Kenya have faced significant challenges in re-establishing government authority.
Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas, has experienced prolonged political instability and, over the past year, a surge in violence perpetrated by armed groups.
Ghada Waly, Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said that criminal gangs now control approximately 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince, an increase from the previous estimate of 85 per cent.
With the government’s ability to function diminishing quickly, she warned that criminal gangs are filling the power vacuum. Since an organised attack led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry last year, gang violence has escalated significantly.
He was succeeded by a weakened transitional council tasked with organising elections by February 2026. The last elections took place in 2016.
