SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A report printed Wednesday affords new perception into how gangs in Haiti backed by political and financial actors function in a rustic making ready for its first basic elections in additional than 10 years.
The 94-page report was compiled from October 2025 to July 2026 by specialists appointed by the U.N. Secretary Normal. They traveled to Haiti, assembly with dozens of individuals together with confidential sources whose info they are saying was corroborated by unbiased sources.
The specialists famous there at the moment are “violent fractures” inside a powerful gang alliance known as Viv Ansanm. The alliance, fashioned in 2023, launched assaults in 2024 on key state infrastructure.
The fragmentation of the gang alliance “exposes civilians to renewed violence, displacement and sexual violence in areas that had been … stabilized,” stated Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory on the International Initiative Towards Transnational Organized Crime.
Le Cour stated that within the lead-up to elections, relationships between legal leaders, brokers, and political and financial figures are re-activating.
“Every chief will search political and electoral preparations by itself phrases, not Viv Ansanm anymore, primarily based on what it could provide: territory, entry to voters, safety of the method, safety of financial belongings, and rewards as soon as the vote is over,” he stated.
The report famous that gangs stay resilient regardless of two U.N.-backed missions aimed toward quelling violence, warning that “focusing on gang leaders with out addressing the networks that maintain them will inevitably fall brief.”
The report asserted that gangs stay sturdy because of “political, financial and safety actors who again gangs when it serves their pursuits.” It warned that ties between some native authorities and gangs are aimed “at consolidating territorial management and influencing upcoming elections.”
It famous that in late Might, a brand new municipal fee was established within the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Cite Soleil, and that at the very least one commissioner is an energetic gang member.
Report singles out well-known politicians
The report accused Alfrédo Junior Antoine, a former legislator representing Kenscoff, of arming and supporting youth teams “as a political instrument for his agenda.” It additionally held him answerable for kidnappings and for sponsoring an assault in Kenscoff in 2025 that led to greater than 100 deaths and a number of rapes. Kenscoff is a as soon as peaceable farming neighborhood close to Haiti’s capital.
The report accused Antoine of offering weapons, ammunition and monetary sources to Viv Ansanm.
Consultants stated Antoine denied the allegations in an e-mail.
The report additionally singled out former Haitian Senator Nenel Cassy, accusing him of controlling a legal group in Miragoane and supporting armed individuals “to advance his political agenda and pursuits.”
In 2025, Haitian Nationwide Police issued a warrant for Cassy, describing him as “armed and harmful.”
“I’m a pacifist,” he instructed The Related Press by telephone on Wednesday.
He referred to as on the specialists to retract his title and allegations from the report, saying it was “incorrect and unfounded.”
Cassy stated Haiti’s judicial system has not discovered him responsible of something.
“I’m accused of getting relations with armed teams,” he stated. “Nothing has been established.”
He dismissed alleged ties to gangs, saying he has by no means purchased or bought arms and that he doesn’t find the money for such actions. He asserted that the accusations are political persecution.
Cassy stated he needs to see free, trustworthy, democratic and inclusive elections in Haiti, including that “for the immediate,” he isn’t contemplating a run for president or Parliament.
Issues develop as elections close to
The report famous that the decrease area of the Artibonite Department — Haiti’s second-largest electoral district — has been hit with an “unprecedented degree of coordinated gang violence” since March.
Consultants stated that the “historic use of gangs” by former Senator Youri Latortue and ex-lawmaker Prophane Victor has fueled the violence.
“Sources warned that, forward of elections, these people could exploit ties to gangs to mobilize help, intimidate rivals and undermine stability. In addition they cautioned that self-defense teams linked to native political dynamics may very well be used as instruments of intimidation,” the report acknowledged.
It additionally referred to as out delayed implementation of U.N. sanctions, noting that one in all Victor’s frozen financial institution accounts solely has $421: “The meagre quantities of cash frozen by banks don’t correlate with the wealth accrued by these people.”
The report discovered $0 frozen in Haiti’s central financial institution accounts for a number of gang leaders, and solely $2.63 frozen within the account of Dimitri Hérard, ex-head of safety at Haiti’s Nationwide Palace who’s accused within the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.
A handful of wins as election looms
The report referred to as out corrupt cops — together with one nicknamed “My Man” — accused of supplying gangs with weapons, ammunition and intelligence.
One policeman was answerable for choosing up a gang chief’s girlfriend on the airport and for verifying the monetary standing of individuals earlier than they had been kidnapped.
Assist from some officers apart, the report famous that traffickers discover it really easy to smuggle weapons into Haiti that almost all use their very own names from federal firearms licensees.
Girls and kids are weak as elections strategy
As Haiti pushes to carry elections quickly, the specialists warned about a rise in sexual violence and in gangs recruiting youngsters.
Kids earn about $1,000 and a bike for enrollment, they usually obtain $114 to $190 each two weeks. In addition they get meals, alcohol and medicines and an additional $500 for collaborating in “vital fight operations,” the report revealed.
As well as, two gangs now have cells which might be solely feminine, specialists stated.
The report famous that Haitians are more and more counting on vigilantes for defense, and that whereas authorities have regained management of some areas, “beneficial properties stay fragile” and essential roads stay below gang management.
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