Facing a crippling gang crisis that has displaced hundreds of thousands and left the police force under-equipped, Reuters reported that Haiti is bringing back former chief Rameau Normil to lead the Haitian National Police (PNH). Normil’s predecessor, Frantz Elbe, is facing criticism for failing to curb gang violence during his tenure. The PNH is outnumbered and outgunned by heavily armed gangs that control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Human rights groups are urging Normil to swiftly develop a plan to dismantle the gangs and improve the police force. The situation is dire — thousands have been killed, hunger is rampant, and the UN estimates nearly 600,000 people are internally displaced due to gang violence. The PNH is even seeking international aid from Kenya to bolster its efforts.

According to Delaney Zambrano, a student at John Hopkins University, Haiti is on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis due to a surge in gang violence, fuelled by political instability, economic hardship, and a weak police force. Gangs now control most of the country, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions vulnerable to hunger and human rights abuses. H. Bartos, J. Chin, and T. Ashner wrote that a multinational force led by Kenya has been authorised to help, but 4,000 troops might not be enough. The densely populated urban areas and the gangs’ deep presence within communities pose a major challenge. The US can play a significant role in this crisis, by providing strategic planning and logistics support to increase effectiveness. Additionally, troops well versed in human rights can increase their legitimacy and reduce civilian casualties. These US contributions could be crucial in addressing Haiti’s immediate crisis and paving the way for long-term stability.

The escalating gang violence in Haiti paints a terrifying picture of a nation on the brink. With civilian casualties mounting daily and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes, this humanitarian crisis demands immediate international attention. While the deployment of a multinational force offers a glimmer of hope, its success hinges on effectively neutralising the gangs’ stranglehold on the country. The potential consequences of a nation entirely controlled by gangs are dire. Such a scenario would not only inflict unimaginable suffering on Haiti’s people, but also create a breeding ground for transnational criminal activity. Unchecked weapons and fighter flows across borders pose a significant threat to global security. Haiti’s descent into anarchy could easily spill over, destabilising neighbouring countries and potentially exporting violence far beyond its shores. The international community cannot afford to be a bystander in this unfolding tragedy.

Haiti is a nation that is no stranger to hardship. As noted by the UN World Food Program, this crisis has roots in the country’s long history of political instability and economic struggles. Decades of dictatorship followed by periods of unrest left the Haitian government weak and incapable to address poverty and social issues. This created fertile ground for the rise of gangs in the 1990s, initially formed from paramilitary groups involved in political violence. These gangs, often fuelled by poverty and a lack of opportunity, gradually grew stronger, expanding their reach and influence throughout the country. Human Rights Watch claimed that with a weak police force unable to contain them, they now control vast swaths of territory, particularly in the capital Port-au-Prince, leaving the country on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis.

Will Haiti become a failed state, a nightmarish symbol of a nation swallowed by its own shadows? The world watches with bated breath as chaos reigns. The faint hope offered by a multinational force feels like a life raft in a hurricane. If they fail, Haiti risks becoming a breeding ground for international crime, a lawless sinkhole threatening to destabilise the entire region. Can the international community muster the will to pull Haiti back from the brink, or will this once vibrant nation succumb to darkness? The answer will determine not just Haiti’s fate, but the security of the entire hemisphere.