Port-au-Prince, December 19, 2025.- The report « Haiti: Breaking up the deadly gang alliance · Global Voices » International Crisis Group paints a dark picture of the criminal coalition « viv ansanm », responsible for an explosion of violence since 2022. Guest on Magik 9, analyst Diego Da Rin recalls that this alliance, often presented by its leaders as a political or social movement, is primarily a structured criminal organization, involved in at least 16 types of serious crimes. According to United Nations (UN) figures, this violence has resulted in approximately 16,000 deaths in Haiti in three years.
The study shows that « live Ansanm » is not an ideological project, but a strategic calculation. Long-time rival gangs decided to unite when they perceived the rise of a threat that could surpass them: the deployment of an international force led by Kenya. The timeline is revealing, as the coalition's official announcement and its first major attacks coincide with the efforts of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry to support the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).
Faced with this pressure, the coalition « viv ansanm » developed a populist discourse, presenting itself as the defender of the poor neighborhoods against Haitian loligarchy. The report dispels this rhetoric, stressing that the real objectives of gang leaders remain personal enrichment, territorial control and full amnesty for crimes such as murder, abduction, rape, extortion and drug trafficking. Some leaders have also publicly acknowledged that they are seeking « Forgive me. » and forget the courts.
The International Crisis Group believes that the State's response cannot be purely military. The strengthening of the Haitian National Police (HNP), the action of the MMS and the support of private security actors must be part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at restoring a clear balance of power in favour of the authorities. This domination is considered indispensable to force gangs to dissolve, not to offer them political legitimacy.
Finally, the report is part of a crucial threefold context: the approach of 7 February 2026, the attempt to impose Ansanm in the political debate, and the expected deployment of the Gang Repression Force (GRF) around April. While the Haitian population remains largely opposed to any negotiations with gangs, the International Crisis Group excludes that highly targeted mechanisms, particularly for the withdrawal of minors, can be considered once the balance of power is rebalanced.
W.A.
