Haitian Police Regain Control of Belot as Security Forces Intensify Anti-Gang Operations Across Port-au-Prince
Police announce the recapture of a strategic community in Kenscoff while expanding operations in Tabarre and Cité Soleil and strengthening measures against kidnappings.
By The Haitian Tribune Staff | October 10, 2026
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — The Haitian National Police (PNH) announced that security forces have regained control of Belot, a community in the mountainous municipality of Kenscoff, following a coordinated operation against armed gangs.
According to a police statement issued October 6, the operation was conducted with assistance from the government’s anti-gang task force as part of a broader campaign to reclaim territories occupied by criminal organizations.
The reported recovery of Belot represents a potentially important development in ongoing efforts to restore government authority in the hills overlooking metropolitan Port-au-Prince, where armed groups have expanded their presence and threatened surrounding communities.
Kenscoff, traditionally known for its agricultural production, cooler climate, and residential communities, has increasingly become a focal point of Haiti’s security crisis.
Gang activity in the municipality has disrupted daily life, threatened residents, and raised concerns about the security of surrounding areas.
Security Operations Expand to Tabarre and Cité Soleil
While police concentrated efforts on Kenscoff, the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) reported additional operations in Tabarre and Cité Soleil on October 5 and 6.
Both municipalities have experienced significant insecurity linked to the activities of heavily armed criminal organizations.
According to the force, the operations targeted positions occupied by armed groups as part of coordinated efforts to weaken their operational capabilities and restore access to affected communities.
The interventions reflect an expanding security strategy that seeks to confront gang networks across multiple locations rather than concentrating resources on a single neighborhood.
However, authorities have not provided detailed information about arrests, casualties, or the amount of territory secured during the operations in Tabarre and Cité Soleil.
Police Leadership Orders Stronger Measures Against Kidnappings
In addition to territorial operations, Haiti’s police leadership has announced renewed efforts to combat kidnappings throughout the metropolitan region.
During an October 8 meeting with departmental police directors, senior PNH officials instructed commanders to increase security along major roads and strengthen supervision of units deployed in the field.
The directives include more intensive monitoring of strategic transportation corridors and improved coordination among police personnel.
Kidnappings have remained a major concern for residents of Port-au-Prince and surrounding communities, where armed groups have used abductions to intimidate civilians and generate revenue.
The new measures are intended to improve police visibility, deter criminal activity, and strengthen the protection of motorists and pedestrians.
The Challenge of Maintaining Control
Although the recovery of Belot marks a reported operational success, maintaining security in previously gang-controlled areas remains a significant challenge.
Past security interventions have demonstrated that removing armed groups from a community does not automatically guarantee lasting stability.
Effective territorial control requires sustained police presence, secure transportation routes, intelligence gathering, and cooperation with local residents.
Security analysts have also emphasized the importance of preventing criminal organizations from returning after police units withdraw.
For the PNH, the challenge is therefore twofold: recovering territory while ensuring that communities remain protected.
The Haitian Tribune Analysis
The latest operations suggest that Haitian authorities are attempting to strengthen coordination between national police units, the government’s anti-gang task force, and international security personnel.
However, the effectiveness of this strategy will ultimately depend on whether security forces can maintain control of recovered areas and protect civilians from retaliatory attacks.
The recovery of Belot could become an important example of progress if authorities establish a lasting security presence and allow displaced residents to return safely.
For Haiti’s population, the most meaningful indicator of success will not simply be the announcement of another police operation, but the restoration of freedom of movement, economic activity, and public safety.
By the Haitian Tribune Newsroom
