United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that gangs in Haiti could soon overrun the capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a total collapse of government authority unless more international support is provided to the struggling national police. In a report released ahead of a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Guterres emphasized that “time is of the essence” to address the worsening situation in the country.
He cautioned that further delays in supplying additional officers to the multinational force tackling gang violence or providing further assistance could lead to the “catastrophic collapse of national security institutions.” The escalating crisis in Haiti, already the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, continues to threaten the country’s stability.
“This could allow the gangs to overrun the entire metropolitan area, resulting in a complete breakdown of state authority and rendering international operations, including those to support communities in need, in the country untenable,” Guterres said.
He told the Security Council: “We must urgently do everything in our power to prevent such an outcome.”
Kenya is leading the multinational police force in Haiti, with 217 additional officers arriving over the weekend, bringing the total deployment to over 600. However, this is still below the 1,000 officers promised by Kenya’s president. Additionally, 150 officers from Guatemala and an advance team of eight Salvadoran troops have arrived, but the force remains significantly under its planned strength of 2,500 officers.
The influence of gangs in Haiti has surged since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The United Nations reported that over 5,600 people were killed across Haiti last year, with killings increasing by more than 20% compared to 2023, according to the UN Human Rights Office. Without adequate international support, the situation in the country continues to deteriorate, putting national security and stability at risk.
Maria Isabel Salvador, the U.N. special envoy for Haiti, informed the Security Council that gang violence in the country has forced over one million Haitians to flee their homes. Many of these displaced individuals are now living in makeshift and unsanitary shelters after armed groups destroyed their homes.
Salvador described the humanitarian crisis in Haiti as reaching “alarming levels,” with nearly 2 million people facing emergency levels of food insecurity. She also highlighted the dire situation for 6,000 people, who are in catastrophic conditions and facing starvation. The ongoing violence and lack of resources continue to exacerbate the country’s already fragile situation.
