Haiti Hires Erik Prince to Lead Gang Crackdown
Haiti contracts Erik Prince, Blackwater founder and Trump ally, to run lethal anti-gang operations.
Haiti’s embattled government has turned to Erik Prince—the controversial founder of Blackwater and longtime Trump associate—to spearhead lethal operations against the gangs that have seized control of much of the capital, marking a drastic shift in the country’s approach to restoring order.
Prince signed a secretive contract with Haitian authorities to lead drone strikes and ground missions targeting gang strongholds in Port-au-Prince. His team, already operating drones since March, plans to deploy 150 armed contractors, including veterans and foreign mercenaries, over the summer.
A large shipment of weapons has reportedly arrived in Haiti in preparation for escalated operations. So far, no high-value targets have been officially confirmed killed.
U.S. Distances Itself, Haitians Divided
The U.S. State Department said it is not funding or overseeing Prince’s activities. Though some Haitian officials and civilians see Prince’s involvement as a last resort amid a security collapse, others, including Haitian American veterans and human rights advocates, raise concerns about lack of oversight and accountability.
Rod Joseph, a U.S. Army veteran in contact with Prince, warned:
“If he’s from the U.S. government, at least he can answer to Congress. If it’s his contract, he doesn’t owe anybody an explanation.”
Blackwater Legacy and Risks Ahead
Prince’s name remains linked to Blackwater’s legacy, including the 2007 Baghdad massacre that killed 17 civilians. His recent ventures in Ecuador and Libya, and past proposals to privatize conflicts in Afghanistan, have drawn criticism.
Experts caution that reliance on private armies could further destabilize Haiti, where gang violence has displaced over a million people and overwhelmed national police forces. The failed UN-backed Kenyan police mission has left a security vacuum.
“Every time you parachute knowledge in and parachute out, the locals will always be in need of that knowledge,” Joseph added.
Haiti’s Desperate Gamble
Facing a near-total collapse of governance, Prime Minister Garry Conille’s interim government appears willing to accept any capable force. Finance Minister Alfred Métellus declared:
“The doors are open. All possibilities must be on the table.”
As drones continue to target gang clusters and Prince expands his role to customs, transport, and revenue collection, Haiti’s fragile state is becoming a proving ground for the privatized warfare model.