Haiti has declared a three-month state of emergency in response to a dramatic surge in gang violence across the country. The measure covers the West, Centre, and Artibonite departments, the latter known as Haiti’s “rice basket,” which has recently seen a sharp rise in armed attacks.
The government says the emergency will allow authorities to mobilize resources and respond to both insecurity and the ongoing agricultural and food crises. Officials emphasized that the escalating violence has devastating effects on citizens’ lives as well as the nation’s economy.
Haiti has struggled with years of gang-related violence, fueled in part by rivalries among armed groups with links to political and business elites. The situation worsened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, leaving a power vacuum and further destabilizing the country.
According to the United Nations, nearly 4,900 people have been killed from October 2024 through June 2025, while the International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 1.3 million people have been displaced. While much attention has focused on Port-au-Prince—where up to 90 percent of the city is controlled by gangs—violence is spreading to other regions. In Artibonite and Centre, more than 1,000 people were killed and 620 kidnapped during the same period.
Recent weeks have seen desperate residents fleeing across rivers and roads in an attempt to escape gang-controlled areas.
In a move to strengthen law enforcement, the Haitian government has appointed Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison as interim director of the National Police. Paraison, a former head of security at the National Palace and an officer on duty during President Moise’s assassination, vowed during his inauguration that the police “will not sleep” and pledged to provide security throughout the country. He replaces Normil Rameau, whose year-long tenure was marked by clashes with the Transitional Presidential Council and warnings about underfunded police forces.
The appointment comes alongside Laurent Saint-Cyr taking over as president of the Transitional Presidential Council, tasked with preparing elections by February 2026. Haitian officials are hoping these leadership changes, combined with the state of emergency, will help restore stability in a nation long battered by armed groups.
We will continue to monitor the situation in Haiti and bring you updates on the humanitarian and security developments.
Reporting by Katy Moore.
