Haiti gangs expand operations into rural areas, report says

The report details how gangs are utilizing small, mobile units for rapid raids, community harassment, and movement between areas that serve as both sanctuaries and targets. This approach allows armed groups to project influence and disrupt daily life without needing to occupy territory permanently.

The recent assault on Kenscoff, a mountainous community near Port-au-Prince, which resulted in dozens of deaths and a mass kidnapping, is cited as an example of this evolving nature of gang violence. The report also points to escalating insecurity in Artibonite, one of Haiti's primary agricultural regions, where gangs have been targeting communities, transportation routes, and farmland.

This growing violence in rural areas presents a significant challenge for Haiti's security forces, who are reportedly lacking adequate personnel, equipment, and training to effectively combat highly mobile armed groups across difficult terrain. The report emphasizes that a purely security-focused response would be insufficient. It advocates for broader measures, including protecting farmers, revitalizing local economies, and addressing long-standing land and community disputes, in conjunction with efforts to disarm and reintegrate gang members.