The 94-page report describes links between armed groups and political, economic and security figures, and warns that efforts targeting gang leaders alone will not resolve the crisis.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — A new United Nations report lays out how relationships between armed groups and figures in politics, business and security are helping gangs maintain their influence in Haiti. The report, compiled from October 2025 through July 2026, warns that these networks could shape political activity and threaten security as the country prepares for elections.
The experts say gangs have remained resilient despite international security efforts. They describe connections that can provide armed groups with weapons, money and intelligence, while helping some political or economic actors pursue their own interests. The report also points to alleged corruption within the police, including officers accused of supplying gangs with weapons and information.
The report names several political figures in connection with alleged support for armed groups. It accuses former legislator Alfrédo Junior Antoine of providing weapons, ammunition and financial resources to Viv Ansanm and links him to kidnappings and a deadly 2025 attack in Kenscoff. Antoine denied the allegations. The experts also accuse former senator Nenel Cassy of supporting armed groups for political purposes. Cassy rejected the claims and said they were unfounded.
The panel warns that gang ties could also be used to influence upcoming elections. It cites concerns about former senator Youri Latortue and former lawmaker Prophane Victor, saying their historical use of gangs may enable intimidation and efforts to mobilize political support. The report also highlights weak enforcement of United Nations sanctions, including cases where little money was frozen in accounts tied to sanctioned figures.
Weapons trafficking remains another source of gang strength. The report says traffickers can move firearms into Haiti with relative ease, while some police officers have allegedly provided weapons, ammunition or intelligence to criminal groups. Experts say these flows make it harder for state security forces to counter heavily armed groups.
Civilians continue to bear the consequences. The report warns of sexual violence, child recruitment, displacement and renewed attacks as fractures emerge within the Viv Ansanm alliance. It says some areas that had been stabilized could again face violence, while gains made by authorities remain fragile.
The report’s central warning is that removing individual gang leaders will not be enough if the political, financial and security networks supporting armed groups remain in place. It calls attention to the need to disrupt those connections as Haiti confronts the linked challenges of public safety, humanitarian need and credible elections.
By The Haitian Tribune Staff
