Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
At least 26 heavily armed gangs reportedly control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince and its surroundings, spreading violence through executions, extortion, kidnappings, and commerce disruption. So far this year, more than 2,300 people have died and over 1,100 have been injured due to gang violence in the area.
To address this crisis, a new force called the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), created with UN Security Council backing, has begun patrolling the capital. The GSF's headquarters, Camp Vertières, is located near Boulevard du 15 Octobre and is being outfitted to host up to 5,550 personnel as mandated by the Security Council. Troops from various countries currently reside on base, and operational offices are being set up.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the base, stating that the deployment offers a real chance to reduce violence and restore state authority, adding that gangs must be disarmed, dismantled, and reintegrated into society through a Haitian-led process. He cautioned that improving security must be paired with political advancements.
The GSF receives logistical, operational, and technical support from the new UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH), including rations, medical aid, and transportation, to carry out its mission to neutralize gangs, protect vulnerable populations, and facilitate humanitarian access.
According to GSF head Jack Christofides, the goal is to reduce gang operational capacity to a level that Haitian institutions can manage sustainably. Haiti has experienced prolonged instability, with over 1.5 million people displaced by gang violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis intensified by the lack of an elected president since July 2021.