Description: Haiti’s police forces have announced they recaptured the headquarters of the country’s telecom operator, Teleco, after last week the station was being overrun by gang forces. The operation, which lasted for more than two hours, was conducted in the once peaceful Kenscoff municipality on the outskirts of the capital Port au Prince. Haiti’s National Police stated that they have seized a considerable amount of weapons, munitions and cash from the site and restored air traffic and internet connections in the region. Haiti’s gangs which control over 90% of the capital city are expanding their operations towards other parts of the country as they continuously clash with the police. The notorious leader of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition. Jimmy Cherizier was also seen through social media having a cordial conversation with Kempes Sanon, one of his fiercest rivals and the leader of the Haut Belair or Les Argentins armed group. Vectus Global, led by the former leader of the infamous Blackwater private military group, announced its plan of deploying up to 200 mercenaries to support Haiti’s police and security forces tackling the gang crisis. Haiti is in a self – proclaimed state of emergency as of two weeks ago when the government declared an agricultural and food crisis caused by the gang violence.
Impact: The security situation is Haiti is showing mild signs of improvement, however, substantial progress is yet to be materialized as the gang coalition holds firm control over the country’s capital. The gangs have also established regional administrative hubs where they assert their governing power, causing further difficulties and strain on the country’s depleted economy. The involvement from private military contractors and increased military presence by the US in the region would inflict further pressure on the gangs and potentially hamper their expansion ambitions. Collusion between rivals, such as the documented situation between Cherizier and Kempos indicates the gangs future plans of organizational cohesion and formation of an even stronger combat presence across the country. The state of emergency in the country would extend at least to the first months of 2026, when elections should be held, while the security and economic crises are yet to be tackled as the gangs maintain control over key sources of revenue and control over the majority of the capital.