Weekly Report Feb 17 to Feb 24

U.S. Embassy INL Bolsters Haitian Security with Critical Vehicle Delivery

On February 14, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) delivered a fleet of critically needed vehicles to support anti-gang activities. Among these assets are 20 state-of-the-art armored personnel carriers now deployed in Port-au-Prince, significantly enhancing the operational capacity of the nation’s 1,000-strong security team.

This new delivery is in line with the donation of February 10, when the United States provided the Haitian National Police (PNH) with 600 firearms, nine vehicles, two trucks, and several heavy armored vehicles. These coordinated efforts demonstrate Washington's sustained commitment to restoring stability in Haiti and protecting communities from gang violence.

This strategic delivery is part of a broader initiative to modernize Haiti’s security infrastructure amid ongoing challenges. The newly received vehicles are engineered to support rapid response operations, ensure secure mobility for security forces, and reinforce the overall ability to protect both urban and rural communities.

Furthermore, the initiative underscores the enduring commitment of the U.S. Embassy and its partners to foster stability and safety in Haiti. By equipping Haitian security personnel with advanced resources, this collaboration aims to deter potential threats, safeguard critical infrastructure, and pave the way for sustainable economic development and community resilience throughout the region.

Haiti National Police Union Demands Urgent Security Measures

On February 16, the Haiti National Police Union (SPNH-17) issued an ultimatum to Haitian authorities amid escalating insecurity, asserting that the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN), the Transitional Council (CPT), and the government have yet to implement concrete measures to address the growing crisis, leaving both the public and law enforcement vulnerable to criminal activities; SPNH-17 has set a firm deadline for the authorities—if no clear and decisive actions to bolster security are announced by March 12, 2025, the union will conclude that the government has abandoned its public safety responsibilities

SPNH-17: Mass Sit-In Against Organized Insecurity

SPNH-17, the Police Union, invites the entire population, the press, and especially our brave police officers to join a large sit-in on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, Delmas 60, Vila Dakay. We aim to send a clear message to the CPT authorities, the Government, and the CSPN: we are tired of organized insecurity, of counting corpses every day, of working without proper rest, and of witnessing young girls and women being raped. We demand that the police be provided with the necessary resources to do their job, be allowed to work without interference, and that planned offensives be launched against all gang strongholds, especially in Village de Dieu, as we are tired of being on the defensive. SPNH-17 calls on all citizens to stand together because we cannot allow gangs to destroy our lives or continue to snatch our children from our arms and cast them into the flames. In solidarity, we will all wear black shirts in memory of all those who have died and the victims of this orchestrated insecurity.

Haiti Cancels 2025 National Carnival Amid Rising Security Concerns

On February 17, 2025, the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) announced the cancellation of the 2025 National Carnival in Fort-Liberté due to escalating security threats and citizen recommendations voiced via media and online forums; however, regional carnivals remain authorized as part of Haiti’s rich cultural tradition, with the government committed to supporting the arts by exploring alternative ways to preserve and promote national heritage while vigilantly monitoring the evolving security landscape.

Port-au-Prince in Crisis: A City Under Siege

A recent report by a Mexico-based human rights organization names Port-au-Prince the world's most violent metropolitan area, highlighting Haiti's severe security breakdown. Rampant gang activity, with kidnappings, assassinations, and frequent clashes with law enforcement, has plunged the capital into chaos, leaving residents in constant fear while authorities grapple with restoring order and urgent international intervention.

MSS Communication Reaffirms Operational Integrity and Counters Misinformation

On February 21, a communication issued by the MSS and signed by Force Commander Godfrey Otunge urged the public to disregard a wave of defeatist propaganda. This false narrative claimed that MSS personnel were lost in Kenscoff and that friendly fire had occurred between MSS and PNH officers. The statement clarified that no MSS personnel were lost. In fact, MSS, working in close collaboration with the PNH, successfully retook and now secures the repeater station in the area. It also firmly denies any accusations of internal conflict, emphasizing the strong and cooperative relationship between Commander Otunge and DG PNH Normil Rameau. The communication insists that all official information be disseminated through the MSS Strategic Communication Office, reiterates the unwavering commitment of both MSS and PNH, and calls for continued public support as they intensify efforts to combat gang activity.

Additional Clarification by The New York Times

Separately, The New York Times has denied publishing an interview in which the Kenyan commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) in Haiti, Godfrey Otunge, allegedly stated that the Haitian police chief would not assist the multinational force in its operations.

Kenyan Officer Dies in Haiti Anti-Gang Operation

A Kenyan police officer Samuel Kitwai, marked the first casualty of the multinational security support mission in Haiti, died from injuries sustained during an anti-gang operation in the lower Artibonite region near Pont Sonde. He was shot while responding to local calls for action against violent gangs that have seized control of much of the capital, and although he was quickly airlifted to a hospital, he later succumbed to his wounds. Hailed as a hero by mission spokesman Jack Ombaka, his death came amid continuous security operations by hundreds of Kenyan officers and Caribbean personnel, with fellow officers ultimately neutralizing the gang member responsible, and an El Salvador Casualty Evacuation team providing critical helicopter support.

Strengthening Haitian Defense: Military Training in Martinique

On February 22, 2025, a detachment of Haitian soldiers departed for Martinique as part of a defense cooperation initiative with France aimed at bolstering the operational capabilities of Haiti's national security forces. Defense Minister Jean Michel Moïse highlighted the importance of French support for rebuilding the Haitian army, while French Ambassador Antoine Michon expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration, which plays a key role in restoring security in Haiti. This latest training, following a similar program last November that focused on shooting, urban combat, vehicle searches, and combat first aid, underscores the continued commitment of both nations to enhancing military proficiency.

Escalating Violence and Displacement in Port-au-Prince

Between February 20 and 24, 2025, panic spread across several neighborhoods in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince as armed bandits renewed their attacks in areas including Nazon, Solino, and Fort-National, sparking violent clashes with law enforcement. On Wednesday, terror gripped neighborhoods such as Carrefour-Feuilles, Turgeau, Pacot, and downtown Port-au-Prince, forcing hundreds of residents to flee without assurances of safety. The situation escalated on Thursday when displaced residents from Solino, living in camps in Bourdon, organized protests demanding that authorities assume their responsibilities and neutralize the armed gangs. Traffic was paralyzed on major arteries like Bourdon and Lalue, most businesses shuttered, and schools sent their students home amid growing chaos. Heavy gunfire was reported into the afternoon, particularly in Nazon and downtown areas. The crisis deepened on Friday in Fort-National, where the “Viv Ansanm” coalition intensified its assaults. Earlier that week, armed men had stormed a home in Dorcoc, endangering 11 people seeking refuge and causing another nine to flee after a fire was set. As tensions remained high, residents in areas including Christ-Roi took to the streets, blocking roads with barricades and burning tires in protest over the death of a BLTS agent during recent clashes. Overall, the situation in Port-au-Prince remains volatile, with daily life disrupted as authorities struggle to regain control.

On February 24, Gunfire continued to ring out across several neighborhoods, with Delmas 17 particularly hard hit as houses were set on fire. Local testimonies indicate that targeted attacks are on the rise, forcing entire families to flee in haste. In Fort National, bandits escalated their assault by burning a house near the BOID (Departmental Operation and Intervention Brigade) base. Local media outlets report that, despite the severity of the situation, police officers at the BOID base, positioned in armored vehicles alongside Kenyan forces, have yet to receive orders to intervene, confining them to exchanging fire with the attackers instead of launching a direct offensive. This defensive stance has left many questioning what measures will be implemented to protect residents and restore order in the affected neighborhoods.

Unmasking Airport Fraud and Corruption in Cap-Haïtien

Last week at Cap-Haïtien International Airport, allegations emerged on social media that InterCaribbean Airways charged an extra $700 to passengers without return tickets for flights to Jamaica, a requirement under Jamaican immigration law for visa holders. Jacques Etienne, the airline’s Cap-Haïtien manager, clarified that the fee roughly matched the cost of a return flight and was not an extortion attempt by the airline but rather a consequence of misinformation and fraudulent practices by some travel agencies, which might cancel return tickets or provide fake documents.

While some frustrated passengers blamed the airline, others defended its reliable service, spotlighting broader concerns over travel fraud in Haiti and prompting calls for enhanced government oversight of travel agencies.

Adding to the controversy, corruption at the airport took a new turn with the arrest of immigration inspector Cald Philippe on February 23, 2025, by agents of the Bureau for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (BLTS) after he was caught accepting money from a passenger with a fake visa. Investigations by the BLTS and the SDPJ revealed a well-structured network, allegedly orchestrated in part by travel agencies, that facilitated the issuance of false visas for cash. Joseph Dudley, head of airport security, confirmed the existence of this fraudulent system, announced measures to dismantle it, and noted additional arrests, including that of Kenelson Viléus, reinforcing suspicions of a deep-rooted corruption operation at the airport.

Former Cite Soleil Mayor Executed

In a stark illustration of Haiti's escalating violence, former Cite Soleil mayor Jacquelin Exantus was captured, brutally shot, and had his body burned by members of the notorious "400 Mawozo" gang, which is known for kidnappings, extortion, and multiple murders. This ruthless assassination, occurring in a neighborhood already marked by impunity, underscores the vulnerability of public figures and the growing influence of criminal groups over Port-au-Prince and its surroundings.

St. Louis du Nord Self-Defense Amid State Inaction in Haiti

According to journalis @ElieFleurimont, a new police unit known as #KDS has emerged in Senlwi Dinò, in Haiti’s Nordwès Department, operating in the St. Louis du Nord area. This unit has been established by local residents in response to the central government’s inability to protect the population. Although no official definition of the acronym KDS has been confirmed, it is speculated to stand for phrases such as "Komite de Défense de la Sécurité" (Committee for the Defense of Security) or "Kolektif Defans Sekirite" in Haitian Creole, reflecting the unit’s mission to safeguard local communities amid ongoing security challenges. This development underscores a significant shift in Haiti’s local security landscape, as communities are increasingly resorting to self-defense measures when state-provided protection falls short. Municipalities in Haiti have the legal right to establish their own police forces, a provision that has long been controversial with the Haitian National Police due to issues of jurisdiction, accountability, and overlapping authorities. The emergence of KDS, created by the people of St. Louis du Nord to secure their area, not only highlights the immediate need for community self-defense but also raises critical questions about the integration of these local initiatives within the national security framework.

UN Proposal for Peacekeeping to Stabilize Haiti

At the 48th Ordinary Meeting of CARICOM Heads of State and Government in Bridgetown, Barbados, discussions focused on Haiti's worsening security crisis, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres and regional leaders to back the creation of a new peacekeeping force aimed at eradicating gang violence and paving the way for democratic elections. Guterres announced he would propose this initiative to the UN Security Council, a move that aligns with Haitian authorities’ appeal, voiced by Presidential Advisor Laurent SAINT-CYR, to transform the existing Multinational Mission for Security Support into a full UN peacekeeping operation. This proposal is seen as a critical step in the international effort to stabilize Haiti through enhanced security measures, constitutional reforms, and the organization of free elections.

Haiti Issues 16 Search Warrants Targeting Ex-Lawmakers for Alleged Gang Ties

The Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) in Haiti has issued 16 search warrants, including those for former senator Nenel Cassy of Fanmi Lavalas and former deputy Alfredo Antoine of Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID). According to Haitian National Police spokesperson Lionel Lazarre on February 18, these individuals are accused of playing key roles in recent gang attacks, such as those in Kenscoff, a commune near Port-au-Prince, by aiding gangs and obstructing law enforcement. They face charges including conspiracy against state security, financing criminal organizations, complicity in murder, and association with armed groups. The warrants come on the heels of several arrests, including that of Loubens “Tilawòch” Roland, who is said to have facilitated gang movements by hindering access to areas under gang control. Kenscoff has been under gang attack since January 27 by groups from Carrefour, Gran Ravin, and Village de Dieu.

Longstanding allegations have surrounded Cassy, who has been suspected of involvement in gang activities, arms trafficking, and illicit financing. He has been sanctioned by both the United States (in December 2023) and Canada (in March 2023), with assets frozen and travel restrictions imposed. Antoine, with a history of legal issues dating back to a 2015 forgery charge, was also recommended for legal action by Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) in November 2023 for corruption and money laundering. Following the issuance of the warrant, Antoine posted on Facebook denying any affiliation with gangs and hinting at a possible surrender, although he has not yet reported to the DCPJ.

Haitian PM Backs Musk’s USAID Critique, Paving the Way for a Trump Administration Alliance

On February 23, 2025, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé publicly supported Elon Musk’s harsh criticism of USAID, which Musk described on the “Dogecast” podcast as “beyond repair” and in need of dismantling. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fils-Aimé affirmed Musk’s claim that USAID had spent billions in Haiti without transparency or accountability, stating, “You’re right! USAID has spent billions in Haiti without accountability. Haiti needs economic development and security, not corruption and cronyism.” His comments emphasized the urgent need for genuine economic development and improved security in Haiti, challenging the longstanding reliance on traditional international aid institutions.

Fils-Aimé’s remarks are widely seen as a deliberate move to open a direct channel with the Trump administration, signaling a shift towards closer collaboration with American Republicans rather than established international bodies. By expressing eagerness to work with @realdonaldtrump, the Haitian leader is positioning his government for a new era in international relations and aid policy. This bold stance not only breaks from conventional diplomatic discourse but also ignites fresh debate over the future framework of international assistance in Haiti, highlighting a growing demand for accountability and a reassessment of how aid is managed in the country.