HaitiKey figures
Who is fighting
Gangs (Viv Ansanm coalition and others)
- Viv Ansanm (G9 Family and Allies incl. Delmas 6, Nan Boston, Belekou; G-Pèp incl. 400 Mawozo, Nan Brooklyn)
- Gran Grif (Artibonite)
- Kokorat San Ras (Artibonite)
- Kraze Baryè, 5 Segond, Chen Mechan, Taliban (Canaan) and others
- Arms trafficked mainly from the United States (UN Panel of Experts)
- Political and business patrons (reported)
Haitian state and international forces
- Haitian National Police (PNH)
- Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H)
- Gang Suppression Force (contributors incl. Chad, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Belize, Bahamas)
- Vectus Global (private military company hired by the government; drone strikes)
- United States (funding, equipment, sanctions)
- Kenya (led the MSS mission 2024–2026)
- CARICOM
Self-defence ('Bwa Kale') groups
- Bwa Kale vigilante movement
- Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas (BSAP, about 6,000 members)
- Local coalitions in Canaan, Pétion-Ville and the Artibonite
- Tolerated by police in some areas (reported)
Force sizes are estimates of personnel or fighters, usually from IISS, government statements or specialist reporting; irregular forces are especially hard to count. "(reported)" marks external support that the backer disputes or has not confirmed.
Background
Haiti's gangs, long used by politicians, grew into territorial armies after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The G9 coalition led by Jimmy 'Barbecue' Chérizier blockaded the Varreux fuel terminal in 2022, and in late February 2024 G9 and its rival G-Pèp merged as Viv Ansanm, attacking prisons, the airport and police stations and forcing Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation. A Transitional Presidential Council took office in April 2024, and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission deployed in June 2024 but never exceeded about 1,000 personnel.
Violence spread beyond the capital in 2025: the Gran Grif gang massacred over 100 people at Pont-Sondé (Oct 2024) and seized Mirebalais and Saut-d'Eau in 2025, while Kenscoff and Cité Soleil saw repeated massacres. OHCHR counted 5,601 killed in 2024 and more than 8,200 between January 2025 and March 2026. From late 2025 a government 'task force' with the private contractor Vectus Global began drone strikes on gang leaders; UN monitors found that security operations, not gangs, now cause most recorded deaths and documented summary executions by police.
On 30 September 2025 the UN Security Council (resolution 2793) replaced the MSS with a 5,500-strong Gang Suppression Force and a UN Support Office. Kenyan police withdrew in April 2026 and contingents from Chad, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh began arriving, but only 1,563 uniformed personnel were in place by 12 October 2026; the mandate was extended to 31 March 2027. The Transitional Presidential Council's mandate ended in February 2026, leaving Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé's government to organise elections; the candidate deadline was pushed to 31 October 2026 and the 13 December first round is uncertain. Fighting over the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac and Cité Soleil killed at least 613 people between March and July 2026, and the Kokorat San Ras gang killed 18 at Gros-Morne in September 2026.
Recent developments
- 16 October 20262026 Humanitarian Response Plan only 49.1% funded of $880.3 million required; Security Council renews the arms embargo and sanctions (14 Oct) ahead of its 19 October briefing. source ↗
- 12 October 2026UN Secretary-General's report: 1,123 killed and 440 injured between 15 July and 12 October (659 gang members); security operations caused 52% of casualties; GSF at 1,563 of 5,500 troops; over 17,000 newly displaced in West and Artibonite. source ↗
- 6 October 2026Council of Ministers amends the electoral decree; candidate registration extended to 31 October and the 13 December first-round date is uncertain. source ↗
- 28 September 2026After a GSF patrol kills three gunmen, the Kokorat San Ras gang attacks Gros-Morne, killing 18. source ↗
- 25 September 2026IOM: nearly 1.5 million displaced, close to 80% outside Port-au-Prince; Artibonite displacement up 16% May–August. source ↗
- 25 August 2026BINUH Q2 report: 1,408 killed and 656 injured Apr–Jun 2026; gangs responsible for 55% of casualties, security operations (some with PMC drones) over 40%; 796 victims of gang rape. source ↗
- 29 May 2026Second cohort of 1,192 new police officers graduates under the P4000 programme. source ↗
Timeline
- 7 July 2021President Jovenel Moïse assassinated; gangs expand amid a power vacuum.
- 12 September 2022G9 blockades the Varreux fuel terminal for nearly two months; cholera returns.
- 29 February 2024G9 and G-Pèp form Viv Ansanm and launch coordinated attacks on prisons, the airport and police; PM Ariel Henry resigns (April).
- 25 June 2024First Kenyan police of the Multinational Security Support mission arrive in Port-au-Prince.
- 3 October 2024Gran Grif massacres over 100 people at Pont-Sondé, Artibonite.
- 7 January 2025OHCHR reports 5,601 killed in 2024; Kenscoff attacks begin (Jan–Feb 2025).
- 30 September 2025UN Security Council resolution 2793 creates the 5,500-strong Gang Suppression Force to replace the MSS.
- 15 December 2025Police with Vectus Global drone support intensify operations; Q4 2025 deaths reach 1,523.
- 7 February 2026Transitional Presidential Council's mandate ends; PM Fils-Aimé's government takes charge of the transition.
- 6 March 2026Battle for the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac and Cité Soleil begins; at least 613 killed by 31 July.
- 15 April 2026Kenyan contingent withdraws; GSF troops from Chad, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and others begin arriving.
- 29 September 2026Security Council resolution 2829 extends the GSF and UNSOH mandates to 31 March 2027.
Casualties and displacement in detail
| Measure | Low | High | What the figure covers · source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total killed (cumulative) | 16,000 | 16,000 | OHCHR: over 16,000 killed and 7,000 injured since January 2022 (as of mid-2026; the figure rose further with 1,123 killed 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026). Annual counts: 5,601 (2024); over 8,200 Jan 2025–Mar 2026. globalr2p.org ↗ |
| Combatants killed | 176 | 176 | Police and soldiers: at least 153 police officers killed (to mid-2025), 20 soldiers and 3 Kenyan MSS officers; no 2026 update. Gang members killed are counted within the totals (e.g. 659 of 1,123 killed 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026). en.wikipedia.org ↗ |
| Civilians killed | – | – | UN counts do not separate civilians from gang members overall; of 1,123 killed 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026, 659 were gang members, and 148 non-gang-associated people died in security operations. In Q1 2026, 69% of deaths occurred in security-force operations. securitycouncilreport.org ↗ |
| Wounded | 7,000 | 7,000 | OHCHR: over 7,000 injured since January 2022 (mid-2026); Q4 2025: 806; Q1 2026: 745; Q2 2026: 656; 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026: 440. globalr2p.org ↗ |
| Deaths in the last 12 months | 5,696 | 5,900 | Sum of UN (BINUH/OHCHR) quarterly counts: Q4 2025 1,523 + Q1 2026 1,642 + Q2 2026 1,408 + 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026 1,123 = 5,696; the high adds an allowance for 1–14 July 2026, which no report covers. All perpetrators and victims included; about half of deaths occur in security-force operations. haitidocs.org ↗ |
| Internally displaced | 1,450,000 | 1,466,862 | IOM DTM Round 13 (data 14 Mar–17 May 2026): 1,466,862 IDPs, 79% outside the capital; IOM still reported 'nearly 1.5 million' in September 2026. Over 110,000 Haitians were forcibly returned from abroad in 2026. dtm.iom.int ↗ |
| Refugees abroad | – | – | No consolidated refugee figure; large Haitian populations in the Dominican Republic, US and Latin America face deportation (over 110,000 forced returns in 2026 to September). iom.int ↗ |
Intensity classification: UN human rights monitoring (BINUH/OHCHR): 5,696 people killed between 1 Oct 2025 and 12 Oct 2026 (Q4 2025: 1,523; Q1 2026: 1,642; Q2 2026: 1,408; 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026: 1,123; 1–14 July not covered). Over 16,000 killed since January 2022. Includes gang members killed in police, drone and vigilante operations..
Countries affected
Frequently asked questions
Who is fighting in the Haiti gang war (Viv Ansanm and other gangs vs police, Gang Suppression Force and self-defence groups)?
Gangs (Viv Ansanm coalition and others) (Viv Ansanm (G9 Family and Allies incl. Delmas 6, Nan Boston, Belekou; G-Pèp incl. 400 Mawozo, Nan Brooklyn), Gran Grif (Artibonite), Kokorat San Ras (Artibonite), Kraze Baryè, 5 Segond, Chen Mechan, Taliban (Canaan) and others), supported by Arms trafficked mainly from the United States (UN Panel of Experts), Political and business patrons (reported); against Haitian state and international forces (Haitian National Police (PNH), Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd'H), Gang Suppression Force (contributors incl. Chad, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Belize, Bahamas), Vectus Global (private military company hired by the government; drone strikes)), supported by United States (funding, equipment, sanctions), Kenya (led the MSS mission 2024–2026), CARICOM; against Self-defence ('Bwa Kale') groups (Bwa Kale vigilante movement, Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas (BSAP, about 6,000 members), Local coalitions in Canaan, Pétion-Ville and the Artibonite), supported by Tolerated by police in some areas (reported).
How many people have been killed?
Estimates range from 16,000 killed as of 12 October 2026. OHCHR: over 16,000 killed and 7,000 injured since January 2022 (as of mid-2026; the figure rose further with 1,123 killed 15 Jul–12 Oct 2026). Annual counts: 5,601 (2024); over 8,200 Jan 2025–Mar 2026. Figures come from the sources listed on this page and differ in method; see the caveats above.
Is the Haiti gang war (Viv Ansanm and other gangs vs police, Gang Suppression Force and self-defence groups) still ongoing in 2026?
Status as of 19 October 2026: Active fighting — Armed gangs united under the Viv Ansanm coalition control about 90% of Port-au-Prince and have spread into the Artibonite and Centre departments, fighting the Haitian National Police, a UN-authorised Gang Suppression Force (GSF, successor to the Kenyan-led MSS mission) and a government-hired private military company using explosive drones, as well as 'Bwa Kale' vigilante groups. More than 5,500 people were killed in the twelve months to October 2026 — over half of them in security-force operations — and nearly 1.5 million people are displaced. The GSF had only 1,563 of its mandated 5,500 troops in October 2026, Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and a December 2026 first-round date is in doubt.
When did it start?
The current phase began on 29 February 2024, but the underlying conflict dates back to 2018 — 2 years, 7 months ago.
Sources
- Security Council Report — Haiti briefing (19 Oct 2026) securitycouncilreport.org
- BINUH — Q2 2026 human rights report (1,408 killed) binuh.unmissions.org
- BINUH/OHCHR — Q1 2026 quarterly report (full text) haitidocs.org
- OHCHR — Gangs expand reach in Haiti (Mar 2026) ohchr.org
- IOM DTM — Haiti Round 13 (May 2026) dtm.iom.int
- Global Centre for R2P — Haiti globalr2p.org
- Wikipedia — Gang war in Haiti en.wikipedia.org
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