Haiti gangs expand operations into rural provinces

Armed gangs in Haiti are expanding their operations beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, into provincial regions using new, more mobile tactics. According to an analysis by the Haiti Observatory of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, criminal groups are deploying small, agile units to launch sudden raids and harass communities without needing to maintain permanent territorial control.

Recent violence in the mountainous community of Kenscoff serves as a primary example, where dozens were killed and mass kidnappings occurred. In the Artibonite region, a critical area for agricultural production, gangs are increasingly targeting communities, transport routes, and farming villages.

The report warns that Haitian security forces lack the personnel, equipment, and training necessary to counter these mobile groups in rugged, dispersed locations. Experts suggest that law enforcement alone will be insufficient, recommending additional measures such as protecting farmers, restoring local economies, and resolving long-standing land disputes.