A nation haunted by history and held hostage by gangs.
Few places on Earth have endured as much as Haiti. The first independent Black republic in the world, it emerged from the fires of revolution in 1804 only to face centuries of isolation, exploitation, and instability. Today, the Caribbean nation faces a new kind of torment—gangs that rule vast swathes of its capital, Port-au-Prince, with an iron fist, perpetuating a cycle of violence that has claimed over 5,600 lives in the past year alone, according to the United Nations.
The numbers are staggering. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported a further 2,212 injured and 1,494 kidnapped in 2024, figures that barely capture the horrors faced by Haitians daily. Gang violence has reached grotesque new lows, epitomized by a December massacre in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood, where over 200 people were slaughtered. Allegedly orchestrated by a gang leader seeking vengeance over the death of his child, the killings reflected not only the impunity enjoyed by these criminal groups but also the weaponization of deep-seated cultural fears, as victims were accused of using voodoo to harm the leader’s family.
Haiti’s modern struggles cannot be divorced from its history. The successful slave rebellion that birthed the nation also sealed its fate in the eyes of the colonial powers. France imposed an indemnity in 1825, a debt that crippled the country’s economy for over a century. Subsequent U.S. occupations, Cold War meddling, and decades of corrupt leadership eroded its political and institutional foundations.
The assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 marked a grim turning point, plunging Haiti further into chaos. Since then, gangs have filled the power vacuum, controlling key supply routes and entire neighbourhoods. They tax local populations, engage in human trafficking, and often serve as unofficial enforcers for political elites.
Compounding this, Haiti faces a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. Chronic hunger afflicts millions, cholera and tuberculosis are resurging and essential services including healthcare, are collapsing under the weight of unchecked violence. The situation is so dire that even hospitals reopening after refurbishment are not spared from violence, as seen in the December attack on Bernard Mevs Hospital.
The United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, bolstered by new contingents from Guatemala and El Salvador, is the latest attempt to address the crisis. However, scepticism abounds. Similar missions in the past have failed to restore lasting stability, largely due to insufficient funding, poor coordination, and the inability to address Haiti’s entrenched economic and social inequalities.
The Haitian National Police has itself been tarnished by allegations of complicity in extrajudicial killings and lynchings. Restoring the rule of law seems a distant dream when law enforcement is both underfunded and mistrusted.
Efforts to stem the flow of arms into Haiti have also fallen short. The country’s porous borders and well-organized smuggling networks ensure that weapons intended for law enforcement or private militias often end up in the hands of gangs.
Cultural complexities add another layer to Haiti’s plight. Vodou, often misunderstood and demonized, is a central pillar of Haitian identity. Born from the syncretism of West African spiritual traditions and Catholicism during the colonial era, it has been both a source of resilience and a target of suspicion. Gangs have exploited these cultural currents to sow fear and justify atrocities.
Haiti’s descent into chaos demands more than piecemeal international interventions. Addressing the root causes of its crisis requires a multi-pronged approach. Restoring governance is paramount. The international community must not only support the MSS mission but also work towards strengthening Haiti’s democratic institutions, curbing corruption, and ensuring transparency in the allocation of aid.
As history’s first Black republic teeters on the brink of collapse, the world faces a moral imperative to act decisively. If not, Haiti’s inferno will continue to burn, consuming not just its people but the hope of a brighter future.
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