Haiti Declares Three-Month State of Emergency Amid Escalating Gang Violence and Humanitarian Crisis
Haiti’s government has declared a three-month state of emergency across the West, Centre, and Artibonite departments in a bid to curb the alarming surge in gang violence that continues to destabilize the country.
The announcement comes as armed groups intensify their attacks, worsening security and fueling a deepening agricultural and food crisis.
The Artibonite region known as Haiti’s “rice basket” and vital for national food production has witnessed a sharp rise in gang-related violence in recent months, threatening both livelihoods and food security.
In an official statement released Saturday, authorities emphasized that the state of emergency aims to “mobilize the full resources and institutional capacities of the state to combat insecurity and address the urgent agricultural and food challenges facing the country.” The government highlighted how the ongoing violence not only endangers civilians but also severely disrupts economic activity and social stability.
Haiti has been grappling with years of entrenched violence perpetrated by powerful armed gangs, some with alleged connections to political and business elites competing for territorial control. The crisis escalated dramatically after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, which left a leadership vacuum and further weakened state institutions.
Since then, the violence has forced nearly 1.3 million people to flee their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The United Nations reports that from October 2024 to June 2025, at least 4,864 people were killed due to violent clashes, kidnappings, and targeted attacks.
While much international attention has focused on Port-au-Prince, where up to 90% of the city is controlled by gangs, the security crisis is spreading to other regions. The Centre and Artibonite departments have seen increasing incidents of violence, kidnappings, and forced displacement. UN human rights monitors report that between October 2024 and June 2025, these two regions alone experienced over 1,000 killings and 620 kidnappings.
In late April, desperate residents fled through dangerous routes, including wading and swimming across the Artibonite River, to escape gang-controlled areas, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.
In response to the crisis, Haiti’s government recently appointed Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison as the interim director of the National Police. Paraison, who served as head of security at the National Palace and was on duty during the assassination of President Moise, pledged unwavering commitment to restoring order.
“We, the police, will not sleep,” Paraison declared at his inauguration. “We will provide security across every corner of the country.”
He replaces Normil Rameau, who faced challenges including severe underfunding of the police force and political tensions with factions within the Transitional Presidential Council, particularly Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime.
This leadership shift coincides with the recent appointment of Laurent Saint-Cyr, a prominent businessman, as president of the Transitional Presidential Council. The council is tasked with organizing national elections scheduled for February 2026, a critical step toward restoring political stability.
Despite international efforts including the deployment of a UN-backed, Kenya-led police mission gang violence and insecurity persist, threatening the country’s fragile governance and humanitarian situation.
Haiti’s declaration of a state of emergency marks a significant escalation in the government’s response to a multifaceted crisis fueled by rampant gang violence, political instability, and economic hardship.
With millions displaced and thousands killed, the path to peace and stability remains steep and uncertain, underscoring the urgent need for sustained domestic and international support.
