Power Struggles and Chaos: Clashes Between Armed Groups in Port-au-Prince Amid Political Turmoil

The road in front of Haiti's Toussaint Louverture International Airport is eerily quiet these days. Once bustling with cars and people, it now only has smoke rising from burning piles of trash, creating a bitter smell in the air.

Nearby, an armored police vehicle sits with a few officers wearing balaclavas. The scene resembles a post-apocalyptic setting, with the street almost deserted. This is a familiar experience for the people of Port-au-Prince, who have been through disasters before. However, this time leaving the city is not an option as the airport, facing attacks from gangs, has been forced to shut down.

Since the beginning of the month, criminal groups have been launching coordinated attacks on the remaining institutions of the Haitian state - including the airport, police stations, government buildings, and the National Penitentiary. This escalation follows years of increasing gang influence and civil unrest. The collective assault led to Prime Minister Ariel Henry's resignation last week, a surprising surrender that has unfortunately not brought peace.

Empty road in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 17.

Empty road in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 17.

Evelio Contreras

Port-au-Prince’s gangs are still causing shortages of food, fuel, and water throughout the city. Despite the efforts of Haiti’s National Police, who are gradually regaining control of the area, the overall situation remains grim. Urban warfare is taking a toll on the city's core, weakening the bonds between its inhabitants.

As a result, businesses and schools are closed, and many people choose to stay indoors out of fear. Some have even resorted to taking matters into their own hands. The prevailing emotions are fear, mistrust, and anger, with death looming over the population.

Vigilante justice, approved by the police

In the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Canapé Vert, the bustling side streets are evidence of a once-unthinkably harsh strategy to maintain order.

The aftermath of extrajudicial executions is evident in Port-au-Prince, with black soot staining the pavement where suspected criminals were killed by residents. According to a local security source, the bodies were disposed of by fire, leaving a lasting mark on the community.

Gangs have been a long-standing issue in Port-au-Prince, but their influence has grown significantly in recent years. UN estimates suggest that these criminal groups now control 80% of the city. In response to this alarming situation, many Haitians have come together to form a vigilante group called bwa kale, as they watch their city fall under the control of these gangs.

Communities have come together to create neighborhood defense committees, equipped with shared fortifications, surveillance systems, checkpoints, and patrols.

Their unity has proven successful. In 2023, various neighborhoods in the city collaborated with the local police to drive out the Ti Makak gang from the hilly residential areas. This information was confirmed by local sources and a report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime in February 2024.

CNN

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Vigilante groups have also lynched hundreds of people suspected of gang membership or “common crimes,” according to an October 2023 United Nations report. One militia member, speaking to CNN in a car-filled lot next to a church where a wedding was taking place, mentioned that his group had successfully defended Canapé Vert against numerous gang attacks.

Gangs operate by taking control of areas with major businesses and extorting money from them to maintain dominance. The area in question houses prominent businesses such as two national cellular companies and a significant hotel, as revealed by an anonymous source speaking to CNN for safety reasons.

The source highlighted that they face constant threats from the gangs, who often threaten to attack and cause chaos in the neighborhood. As a precaution, they block off the streets and cooperate with the police to conduct searches, ensuring no civilians are involved in the process. Despite the threats, the militia defending the area only relies on "machetes and bare hands" for protection, the source added.

The police have a good relationship with the militia and trust them. One commander even said that the group saved the Canapé Vert police station from a dangerous gang attack last spring. In that incident, more than a dozen suspected gang members were killed and burned outside the station. The commander, who wanted to remain anonymous for safety reasons, shared this information with CNN.

Refugees in their own city

Just a short five-minute drive away, there is another community facing challenging circumstances: a displacement camp. These camps are scattered throughout the city, providing temporary refuge for tens of thousands of residents who have been displaced from their homes due to violence and arson.

Marie Maurice, 56, found herself in a situation where a gang was encroaching closer and closer to her neighborhood. When she received a warning of an impending gang attack on February 29, she wasted no time. Leaving all her belongings behind, she joined others in a nearly one-hour walk to seek shelter at the public Argentine Bellegarde school.

Nearly three weeks later, children in this area are seen flying kites created from discarded foil and plastic. They also play with homemade toy cars made from empty soda cans, using bottle caps as wheels and stones as passengers.

The adults in the community try to maintain a sense of normalcy, although they feel a sense of hopelessness. They have chosen a leader to communicate with the local police and to request assistance from aid organizations for necessities like food and water. However, limited aid has been received as there are obstacles throughout the city preventing its delivery.

Maurice does her best to maintain her family's small area in the busy space clean. She spends 20 minutes walking to buy water to wash the floor. However, her family struggles to have enough food to eat or even a proper space to cook. They survive on sharing a small bite or a piece of street food every day. According to Maurice, even a mint could be considered a meal.

When we encountered Maurice, she hadn't eaten anything all day.

Armored police vehicle in Port-au-Prince on March 17.

CNN

Several residents of the camp are facing challenges beyond daily survival. They feel that they have overstayed their welcome and tensions with their neighbors are escalating. Local residents are becoming increasingly impatient and worried about the potential for gang activity due to the influx of outsiders.

The International Organization for Migration has raised concerns about the impact of diminishing resources and increasing violence. They have warned about a growing "climate of mistrust" in Haiti, which could lead to the breakdown of traditional social support systems, leaving people without any alternatives.

A report from August 2023 highlighted that high levels of insecurity are leading to mistrust between host communities and displaced populations, causing a decline in social cohesion. The report also pointed out that an increasing number of displaced Haitians are seeking refuge in camps rather than with friends or family.

The little school where Maurice resides is already overcrowded. With more people arriving from other parts of the city each day, the limited resources at the site are being stretched even thinner. According to a resident who spoke with CNN, the building's septic tank is full, causing the toilets to back up, and the water cistern is running low.

Today, there are 1,575 people living in open-air classrooms, a small number compared to the 360,000 displaced across the country as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Fear has divided them.

Port-au-Prince has faced ongoing issues with frequent kidnappings, torture, and rape carried out by gangs. Despite discussions among Haiti's elite about forming a presidential transitional council, and a lack of intervention from the international community, finding a political solution seems unlikely as long as gunshots continue to echo through the city at night, disrupting the peace.

Marie Suze Saint Charles in a hospital, Port-au-Prince March 17

Marie Suze Saint Charles in a hospital, Port-au-Prince March 17

Evelio Contreras

Haiti's capital is becoming divided by numerous police, gang, and civilian checkpoints, creating a sense of unease and tension among its residents. The city is now fragmented into separate and fearful territories, with everyone experiencing the trauma of the situation.

Marie-Suze Saint Charles, aged 47, reveals that her sons are too scared of the ongoing violence to come and see her in the hospital. She was shot on March 1 while returning from work, resulting in a shattered leg.

One of her sons, aged 17, was also injured in the shooting and is currently receiving treatment at another hospital. Meanwhile, her younger sons, aged eight and thirteen, are too afraid to leave the house. She is unsure if anyone is taking care of them or providing them with food.

"They are terrified of the outside world," she shared with CNN from her hospital bed. "They are so scared that they won't even visit me here. They refuse to step foot outside."

Editor's P/S:

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