Haiti gangs shift operations into countryside, report says

On September 7, a report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime's Haiti Observatory revealed that Haiti's armed gangs are extending their operations from the capital city, Port-au-Prince, into the countryside. This shift in tactics involves using hit-and-run strategies such as kidnappings, cattle theft, and roadblocks, while the security and political focus remains centered on the capital.

The report emphasizes that these changes represent more than just an expansion of urban gang activity into rural areas.

The gangs employ small, mobile units to conduct swift raids, harass local communities, and move between locations serving as both sanctuaries and targets. This method enables the armed groups to exert influence and disrupt daily life without permanently seizing territory.

An example of this changing nature of gang violence is the recent attack on Kenscoff, a mountainous community situated outside of Port-au-Prince. The assault resulted in dozens of deaths and involved a mass kidnapping, as reported in the analysis.

Moreover, the report highlights the worsening security situation in Artibonite, one of Haiti's primary agricultural regions. Gangs have targeted communities, transport routes, and farmland in this area, further exacerbating the threat to rural inhabitants.

The growing violence in rural areas presents a significant challenge for Haitian security forces, who the report asserts lack the necessary personnel, equipment, and training to effectively counter the highly mobile armed groups operating in mountainous and dispersed terrain.

The report goes beyond mere security concerns, suggesting that a security response alone would not suffice to address the gang problem in Haiti. It calls for measures to protect farmers, restore local economies, and tackle long-standing land and community disputes. Additionally, the report advocates for efforts to disarm and reintegrate gang members.