Gang war in Haiti

Gang war in Haiti
Part of crime in Haiti and the Haitian crisis (2018–present)

Clashes between 2023 and 2024
  Areas of gang activity
Date24 May 2020 – present
(5 years, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Location
Status

Ongoing

Belligerents
  • Viv Ansanm
    • G9
      • Delmas 6
      • Baz Pilate
      • Baz Krache Dife
      • Baz Nan Chabon (Waf Jérémie)
      • Nan Boston
    • G-Pèp
    • Chen Mechan
    • Kraze Baryè
    • 5 Segond
    • Gran Ravine
    • Taliban (Canaan)
    • Mariani
    • Ti Bwa
    • Nan Ti Bwa
    • Simon Pelé
    • Belekou
    • Other affiliated groups
Support:
 United States
 Canada
 France
 Spain
 Germany
 Mexico
 Algeria
Commanders and leaders
Jimmy Chérizier
Ti Greg 
Gabriel Jean-Pierre
Vitel'Homme Innocent
Guy Philippe
Jeantel Joseph
Jovenel Moïse X
Ariel Henry
Garry Conille
Frantz Elbé
Rameau Normil
Jodel Lesage
Derby Guerrier
Strength
~12,000 gang members
  • Bwa Kale: unknown
  • ~6,000 BSAP members
~9,000 police officers
~1,500 soldiers
600 police officers
24 security personnel
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown 50+ policemen
12 soldiers
2 policemen
10,000+ deaths
700,000 people displaced (DW estimate)

Since 2020, Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince has been the site of an ongoing gang war. The government of Haiti and Haitian security forces have struggled to maintain their control of Port-au-Prince amid this conflict, with gangs reportedly controlling up to 90% of the city by 2023. In response to the escalating gang fighting, an armed vigilante movement, known as bwa kale, also emerged, with the purpose of fighting the gangs. On 2 October 2023, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 was approved, authorizing a Kenya-led "multinational security support mission" to Haiti. Until 2024, the war was between two major groups and their allies: the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies (FRG9 or G9) and the G-Pep. However, in February 2024 the two rival gangs formed a coalition opposing the government and the UN mission.

In March 2024, gang violence spread throughout Port-au-Prince with the goal of obtaining the resignation of unelected acting prime minister Ariel Henry, leading to the storming of two prisons and the release of thousands of prisoners. These attacks and subsequent attacks on various government institutions led the Haitian government to declare a state of emergency and impose a curfew. Henry ultimately resigned and was replaced by Garry Conille.