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Situation in Haiti
- Over 42 people were killed in a massacre in Labrodrie on 11 September by members of the “Viv Ansanm” gang coalition. The massacre took place as vengeance for the death of a gang leader during clashes with police and self-defence groups on 7 September.
- The attack had been announced over a week before it took place, but no measures were taken to protect the population.
- The leader of the “Viv Ansanm” gang coalition, Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, has stated that top officials in Haiti have made payments to gangs to reinforce the instability in the country enabling them to remain in power.
- Gunmen attacked an armored vehicle in Kenscoff, injuring two police officers and killing one driver.
- The police station of Liancourt was attacked and set on fire by the Gran Grif gang from Savien on the night of 14-15 September. As a response, local authorities have vowed not to abandon the community to the gang’s violence and are planning a significant response.
- Tensions have been high in the city of Gonaïves since 16 September, following the assassination of ex-gang leader Wilfort Ferdinand, also known as Ti Will. Shots have reportedly been fired, tires are being burned and there are reports of a protest underway on the route des dattes.
- Shots were reportedly fired in Mirebalais on 15 September in a clash between gang members and the Haitian National Police (PNH).
- The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) has urged citizens to remain vigilant against calls from Chérizier for residents to return home following peace agreements made between gangs, warning that such invitations often precede renewed violence.
- The Haitian government announced progress in restoring normalcy in Port-au-Prince, showcasing a video of ongoing police operations to reclaim the city from gangs, while emphasizing efforts to clean up the area, remove waste, and ensure the safety and dignity of citizens.
- The national highway #1 has been reopened after nine days thanks to a collective effort from the PNH, self-defense brigadiers, and citizens.
Situation on the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT)
- The Haitian National Committee for Reparation and Restitution (CNHRR) was established on 5 August. The CNHRR aims to highlight the necessity of restorative justice for the economic damages inflicted on Haiti by this historical debt.
- With the mandate of the CPT bound to end on 7 February 2026, the CPT are considering organising a minimal election to appoint a president responsible for overseeing future referendums and legislative elections.
Situation on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission
- A resolution was taken at the UN Security Council on 9 September to transform the MSS mission into a Gang Suppression Force (FRG) with an enhanced mandate to address the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation marked by violence and gang control.
- Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé participated in the UN Security Council meeting, emphasising the importance of the FRG for state authority, community protection, and the organisation of democratic elections in Haiti.
- The resolution was proposed by the U.S. and Panama and has been backed by the CARICOM.
- Haitian security experts have warned that the resolution lacks detail, may repeat past mistakes, and fails to address the underlying issues of the crisis, including funding and leadership challenges.
- 32 member states of the Organisation of American States (OAS) issued a joint statement in support of the restructuring of the MSS into a more aggressive force to fight the gangs.
- However, they stated their concern that calling it a “Gang Suppression Force” would limit efforts to help Haiti to become more stable.
- The Trump administration has urged Canada to assist in stabilizing Haiti, but Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated that it is premature to consider sending peacekeeping troops, while discussions continue on the FRG.
- Kenyan President William Ruto urged the UN to facilitate a responsible transition in Haiti with the MSS concluding next month, highlighting the mission’s under-resourcing and the international community’s inadequate commitment to addressing Haiti’s crisis.
International situation
- Chérizier sent out a letter to the UN Special Representative in Haiti, emphasising that the crisis is rooted in a historical pattern of elite-driven violence and political manipulation, and calling for a national dialogue led by Haitians rather than relying on external interventions.
- Haiti’s representatives at the second Africa-CARICOM Summit in Ethiopia emphasised the need for restorative justice and reparations for the historical injustices faced by Africans and people of African descent.
- A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration can terminate legal protections for approximately 430,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, allowing the end of humanitarian parole while a related lawsuit continues.
- During his visit to Haiti, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher acknowledged the humanitarian response as a failure due to declining funding, with only 12% of the necessary $908 million raised.
- Henry Wooster, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Haiti, warned that both unelected politicians and gang leaders will face consequences for undermining security and governance, while announcing U.S. actions against violent organizations, including Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif.
Links of interest
Plus de 40 morts dans une attaque armée à Labodrie, selon le CASEC Baptiste Joseph Louis
Haiti gang leader Barbecue issues new threats to Kenyan-led force
Gang attack on armored vehicle in Haiti leaves 2 police officers injured and 1 driver dead
Le commissariat de Liancourt démoli par le gang Gran grif de Savien
Le RNDDH invite les citoyens à la « vigilance » face aux messages de paix des gangs armés
Le gouvernement nettoie une partie du centre-ville de Port-au-Prince
Arcahaie : la Route Nationale #1 libérée après neuf jours de blocage
Les membres du CNHRR officiellement installés
Quel est le plan du CPT pour le 7 février 2026 ?
U.S. calls on UN to approve ‘Gang Suppression Force’ for Haiti
Force de suppression des gangs : le PM Fils-Aimé en réunion avec le Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU
La Caricom soutient la transformation de la MMAS en une force de suppression des gangs
Haitian experts warn UN security plan lacks clarity
U.S. asked Canada to play role in stabilizing Haiti
Ruto wants UN to manage orderly transition in Haiti as Kenyan forces pull out
Haiti – Ethiopia : Haiti’s intervention on the restitution of independence debt
Appeals court rules Trump administration can end legal protections for more than 400,000 migrants
« Moins de 12% des fonds nécessaires ont été décaissés », selon Tom Fletcher
Le message fort du chargé d’affaires américain Henry Wooster
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