As Haiti's Security Council-backed Gang Suppression Force expands its deployment, armed groups are not retreating — they are changing how they operate. According to the UN Secretary-General's latest report, gangs are increasingly resorting to hostage-taking, intimidation, and reprisals against civilians to hold territory and challenge state authority. "What is particularly worrying is the gangs' ability to adapt their tactics as security operations intensify," said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the UN's top official in Haiti.
The shift in strategy was illustrated by attacks on 23 and 24 August in Kenscoff, a mountainous town southeast of Port-au-Prince, where at least 47 people were killed, 22 wounded, and 52 taken hostage — 13 of whom were later freed through local initiatives supported by the UN. In the West and Artibonite departments, 241 people were killed for allegedly resisting gangs. Further attacks in Saint-Michel-de-l'Atalaye, Marigot, and Léogâne signal a spread of violence into rural areas, with armed groups also targeting farmland, homes, and public infrastructure.
Security force operations have themselves contributed to the rising death toll. They account for 52 per cent of Haitians killed or wounded since the beginning of July — 808 people in total, including 148 not associated with gangs. As of 12 October, the suppression force counted 1,563 uniformed members, far below the 5,550 authorised by the Security Council. The force's vulnerabilities were underscored when an armoured vehicle transporting Salvadoran soldiers was attacked in Croix-des-Bouquets; four soldiers were still reported missing on Monday, according to media reports.
Ruiz Massieu warned that reclaiming territory alone would not suffice. "Experience has shown that security operations alone cannot bring about lasting stabilisation," he said, calling for the permanent restoration of state presence and disarmament and reintegration programmes, including for children recruited by gangs.
The persistent insecurity is directly obstructing democratic processes. Presidential and legislative elections, initially scheduled for 13 December, have been postponed indefinitely — Haiti has not held national elections since 2016. More than 35 political parties and groups and 3,500 candidates have registered, but as of 5 October only 759,257 potential voters appeared on electoral lists out of an estimated electorate of 6.5 million. Ruiz Massieu cautioned that "setting new dates for elections without a realistic assessment of their feasibility will only erode public confidence and the credibility of Haitian institutions."
The political crisis is compounded by a humanitarian emergency. Nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes, including more than 740,000 children. The economy is expected to contract for the seventh consecutive year, while the UN's 2026 humanitarian plan is only about half funded.
This article is based on a primary source and has undergone editorial review prior to publication.
