The capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, is currently a city held hostage. With armed gangs controlling an estimated 80% or more of the metro area, nearly three million people are living under the constant threat of violence, murder, and acute hunger. This humanitarian crisis escalated into a full-scale political collapse in March 2024, forcing the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The face of this revolution is Jimmy Chérizier, the notorious gang spokesman known as “Barbecue,” who leads the powerful alliance Viv Ansamn ("Live Together"). Their message is clear: they demand a seat at the negotiating table, or the fight against the state—and the international community—will continue.
The Anatomy of a Gang Alliance: Viv Ansamn
For years, Haiti’s armed groups were decentralized and often fought turf wars. The game-changer was the formation of Viv Ansamn, an alliance of rival gangs that unified their firepower and political demands.
-
Political Ambition: Barbecue, a former police officer, claims the gangs are a revolutionary force fighting the corrupt political and economic elites who have kept the majority of Haitians in poverty for decades.
-
The Show of Force: In early 2024, Viv Ansamn launched coordinated attacks on key state infrastructure, including storming two major prisons to release thousands of inmates. This display of military superiority forced Henry’s resignation and demonstrated the gangs’ power to paralyze the state.
-
The Ultimatum: Barbecue’s refusal to lay down weapons and his demand to be at the negotiating table highlights a grim reality: the gangs see themselves not just as criminals, but as de facto political actors.
Economic Leverage: Controlling the Lifeline
The gangs’ hold over Port-au-Prince is not just military; it is fundamentally economic. They control the capital's seafront, which encompasses the strategically vital ports and fuel terminals.
-
Import Reliance: Haiti relies on imports for over 50% of its food and almost all fuel and medical supplies. By controlling the ports, the gangs effectively control the nation's supply chain.
-
Humanitarian Crisis: This blockade has caused catastrophic food insecurity. Gangs disrupt main transport routes, impose illegal "fees" on goods, and prevent traders from supplying markets. The UN reports that almost half of Haiti’s population is now facing acute hunger.
-
Weaponizing Hunger: For the thousands of displaced people trapped in the city, the soaring food prices and scarcity of basic goods transform hunger into a brutal tool of coercion and control used by the gangs.
The Elite’s Role: The Monster They Created
Many Haitians and analysts trace the root of the current chaos back to the nation’s ultra-wealthy political and economic elites.
The narrative suggests that wealthy individuals initially used youth groups and armed bandits to:
-
Attack business rivals and monopolize trade in staple goods.
-
Silence political opposition and maintain their vast family fortunes.
As one commentator noted, the gangs eventually became "more structured and much more powerful" and, in most cases, "turned against their former masters." The politicians and businessmen who armed and financed the violence watched as the monster they created seized the state's power and infrastructure for itself.
The global community, including the US, has responded with sanctions and a planned Kenya-led multinational security support mission. However, with thousands of people facing daily threats of murder, kidnapping, and sexual violence in the gang-held bastions, the urgent need for a solution that addresses both security and the deep-seated political poverty remains critical.
Sources
◦ France 24 - Inside Haiti's Gang War Documentary (2025 Reporting)
◦ International Rescue Committee (IRC) - Top 10 Crises 2026: Haiti
◦ UN News - Explainer: Feeding Haiti in Times of Crisis (2024 Figures)
◦ U.S. Department of Justice - Haitian Gang Leader 'Barbecue' Indicted (2025)
