Key facts
- The U.S. plans to target Haitian gangs' revenue generated through social media.
- U.S. envoy to the UN Mike Waltz announced the upcoming crackdown.
- Gangs in Haiti use social media to celebrate violence, issue threats, and recruit children.
- YouTube previously banned a prominent Haitian gang leader for his social media presence.
- Waltz urged countries with aircraft to assist the UN-backed mission in Haiti.
- Gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people in Haiti.
The U.S. government intends to take action against Haitian gangs that are generating revenue through social media, according to Mike Waltz, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations. Waltz stated at a UN Security Council meeting that the U.S. would 'shut that down' in the near future, describing the practice as 'incredibly disturbing.'
Gangs in Haiti are active on social media, using platforms to celebrate killings, issue threats, and post content aimed at recruiting children. This follows previous efforts to curb such activities, including YouTube's ban of gang leader Johnson André, also known as Izo, after he reached over 100,000 subscribers.
Waltz also appealed for international assistance, specifically requesting countries with aircraft capacity to support the deployment of foreign troops to Haiti, emphasizing the urgent need for help beyond slow sea lifts. The call comes as gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people and left over half the population in need of humanitarian aid.
Recent UN data indicates over 2,300 deaths and 1,100 injuries in Haiti since January due to gang violence. Gangs control approximately 70% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and a significant portion of gang members are children. The U.S. is also preparing to revoke temporary protected status for about 350,000 Haitians residing in the U.S., potentially leading to their deportation.
Despite challenging conditions, a gang suppression force has established operations, and Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé leads the nation, which has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Efforts are underway to bolster Haiti's security forces, with additional police and military recruits expected.