The United Nations has warned that criminal gangs now have “near-total control” over Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and are rapidly expanding across the country. UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday that the Haitian state’s ability to govern is collapsing, with gangs establishing their own governance systems, blocking key trade routes, and escalating violence, including sexual assaults and extrajudicial killings.

Widespread Gang Control and Political Collapse

Ghada Waly, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), told the Security Council that gangs now control around 90% of Port-au-Prince and are pushing into southern and eastern Haiti—regions previously considered relatively safe.

With the government unable to respond, gangs have filled the power vacuum, offering services and controlling territory in a form of “parallel governance.” Their chokehold on transport routes has also triggered a spike in prices for essentials such as fuel and rice, Haiti’s primary food staple.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca said the situation has brought the country “closer to the brink” and warned that without international action, the total collapse of state authority in the capital is a real possibility.

Humanitarian and Security Breakdown

The UN reported an alarming rise in sexual violence, with 364 incidents and 378 survivors documented between March and April alone. Gangs are also accused of recruiting child soldiers and carrying out executions of civilians.

At the same time, vigilante groups and private security companies have grown in number. While some aim to protect their communities, others reportedly act as lawless militias. UN experts revealed that over 100 people have been killed in the past three months by self-defense groups.

The Haitian National Police are also under scrutiny, with 281 documented extrajudicial killings by specialized units in 2024 alone, including the deaths of women and children. Many officers reportedly collude with vigilante groups.

International Force Stretched Thin

Despite the launch of a Multinational Security Support Mission led by Kenya, the force remains understaffed—only 40% of the 2,500 troops promised have arrived. UN Secretary-General António Guterres' call to supply the mission with drones, vehicles, and logistics has received little traction in the Security Council.

With an under-resourced police force and no functioning army, UN experts fear that gangs will continue to dominate unless there is a sharp increase in international intervention and political will.