The Haiti Crisis
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on Haiti's crisis — armed gangs controlling most of the capital amid near-total state breakdown.
Last updated: 2026-09-20 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Haiti Crisis
Haiti Crisis map: control status, coordinates and every tracked location →
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Port-au-Princecity18.5944, -72.3074
Capital of Haiti and seat of its government, largely emptied of state authority as armed gangs expanded through the city after 2023.
Control: Armed gangs hold an estimated 90 percent of the city — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-07-29
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Petion-Villecity18.5125, -72.2853
Hillside suburb overlooking Port-au-Prince that historically housed much of the capital's wealthier population and foreign missions.
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Cite Soleilregion18.5836, -72.3300
Densely populated waterfront district of Port-au-Prince long associated with gang activity and among the areas hardest hit by the current crisis.
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Varreux fuel terminalport18.5700, -72.3600
Main fuel import terminal serving Port-au-Prince, blockaded by armed groups during a 2021-2022 fuel crisis that paralyzed much of the capital.
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Cap-Haitienport19.7592, -72.2025
Haiti's second-largest city and a northern port that has functioned as a relatively more stable hub as violence concentrated in the capital.
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Gonaivescity19.4500, -72.6833
Artibonite department city known as the birthplace of Haitian independence, in a region increasingly affected by expanding gang activity.
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Port-de-Paixport19.9500, -72.8333
Northern coastal city and departmental capital on Haiti's Tortuga Channel.
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Jeremieport18.6413, -74.1158
Port city on Haiti's southern peninsula, comparatively less affected by gang violence than the capital region.
Key facts
- The Haiti Crisis is a gang conflict / state collapse in the Caribbean, currently Escalating (High intensity).
- Armed gang coalitions — led by the Viv Ansanm federation — control an estimated 85–90% of Port-au-Prince and have pushed into the Artibonite, Centre and Grand Nord departments, sustaining a near-total collapse of state authority and a record humanitarian emergency (the IOM estimated about 1.5 million people internally displaced as of June 2026). Under UN Security Council Resolution 2793, the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission began transitioning in 2026 into a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, which remained in early deployment with under 1,000 troops on the ground.
- Key actors: Haitian National Police, Armed gangs and coalitions (Viv Ansanm), Gang Suppression Force (formerly the MSS mission).
- What's at stake: State survival, Humanitarian emergency, Political transition.
Reported deaths
UCDP best estimate, summed by the month each event began, across Haiti. UCDP's high and low estimates for the same period are 661 and 577. A further 122 could not be attributed to a side or to civilians. Candidate data is preliminary and is revised in UCDP's annual release; it counts deaths from organized violence only, not hunger or disease. See how this is counted, including how theaters map to countries, or compare the civilian share across every theater.
Latest developments
Headlines pulled automatically from Google News and linking to primary reporting; last refreshed 2026-09-20.
- 1w agoHaiti's gang violence crisis: What to know and how to helpInternational Rescue Committee
- 5d ago
- 6d agoOn the Ground in Haiti: The Growing War Zone Facing U.S. DeporteesCouncil on Foreign Relations
- Yesterday
- 1w ago
- 3w ago
- 1w agoThey formed to fight Haiti’s gangs. Now they’re an obstacle to peace.The Washington Post
- 2d ago
Overview
Armed gang coalitions — led by the Viv Ansanm federation — control an estimated 85–90% of Port-au-Prince and have pushed into the Artibonite, Centre and Grand Nord departments, sustaining a near-total collapse of state authority and a record humanitarian emergency (the IOM estimated about 1.5 million people internally displaced as of June 2026). Under UN Security Council Resolution 2793, the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission began transitioning in 2026 into a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, which remained in early deployment with under 1,000 troops on the ground.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Haitian National Police — the principal state security force.
- Armed gangs and coalitions (Viv Ansanm) — controlling most of the capital and expanding into central Haiti.
- Gang Suppression Force (formerly the MSS mission) — a UN-backed international force supporting the police.
- Civilian population — facing displacement, hunger, and violence.
What's at stake
- State survival: restoring basic governance and security.
- Humanitarian emergency: hunger, displacement, and disease.
- Political transition: prospects for stability and elections.
- Regional impact: migration and Caribbean security.
Haiti Crisis explained: the key dynamics
Gangs control the capital
Armed gangs, often organized into coalitions, control large portions of Port-au-Prince and key roads, ports, and infrastructure, effectively besieging parts of the capital.
State collapse
The violence has accompanied a near-collapse of state authority, with the police overwhelmed and basic governance, services, and elections disrupted.
An international security mission
A multinational security support mission, led by foreign police contingents, has deployed to help Haitian police confront the gangs, with limited gains amid immense challenges.
Timeline: how the Haiti crisis unfolded
- 2021 — The assassination of the president deepens a political and security vacuum.
- 2022–23 — Gang coalitions expand control across Port-au-Prince.
- 2024 — Gang offensives trigger a governing crisis; an international mission is authorized.
- 2025–26 — Gangs retain control of much of the capital amid a humanitarian emergency.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
Haiti's crisis is tracked by ACLED as gang violence and clashes, alongside UN and humanitarian reporting on displacement and killings. Gang-controlled areas are dangerous to access, so figures are estimates and the situation can change rapidly.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
Criminal Violence in Haiti
Haiti's security crisis accelerated sharply following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Armed gangs, which had long operated in Port-au-Prince's peripheral neighborhoods, expanded their territorial control during the subsequent political vacuum. By 2024, the gang federation G9 and Family and allied groups controlled roughly 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, including the main seaport and key highway junctions.
A Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) authorized by the UN Security Council began deploying in 2024 but has been limited by force size, logistics, and Haiti's operational environment. The Haitian National Police, depleted and outgunned, has been unable to independently contest gang control.
Over 4,500 Haitians were killed in political violence in 2025, with targeted attacks on civilians nearly doubling compared to the previous year. Kidnapping for ransom, sexual violence, and forced displacement are widespread. Approximately 700,000 people have been internally displaced. Haiti's political institutions remain paralyzed, with a presidential council established under international pressure but lacking a clear electoral pathway.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
What is happening in Haiti in 2026?
Gang coalitions led by Viv Ansanm control an estimated 85–90% of Port-au-Prince and have expanded into central Haiti amid state collapse; the IOM estimated about 1.5 million people internally displaced by June 2026. A UN-backed Gang Suppression Force is replacing the Kenya-led MSS mission but was still deploying. Confirm the current status with ACLED, UCDP and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who controls Haiti's capital?
Gang coalitions, principally Viv Ansanm, control an estimated 85–90% of Port-au-Prince, contesting the Haitian police and a UN-backed international force.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Why did Haiti collapse into gang violence?
A combination of political vacuum after the 2021 presidential assassination, economic crisis, and the rapid expansion of heavily armed gang coalitions overwhelmed the state's capacity to maintain order.
What is the international mission in Haiti?
It is a multinational security support mission, authorized to help Haitian police confront the gangs, with foreign police contingents deployed in a supporting role.
Source provenance
- Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker 53 days · as of 2026-07-29
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-09-20
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-20 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-07-29 | Port-au-Prince control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |