Violence in Haiti: At the hands of gangs

In Haiti, the state largely exists only on paper. In the capital, Port-au-Prince, criminal gangs have taken control of individual districts. Kidnapping and sexualized violence characterize everyday life.

When Joel Janus wants to drive through Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Price, he rarely knows how far he’s going. Burning roadblocks regularly prevent people from continuing their journey. They can sometimes no longer move back and forth between the individual districts that are controlled by competing gangs.

He, too, says the mayor of the slum Cité Soleil on the phone, has already been attacked by the gangs. His house was occupied by gang members and his wife was kidnapped.

Now she is free again. He had to pay a ransom of $40,000. Since then, the two have been hiding in another part of the city. But even there he hardly ever leaves the house, says the mayor, for fear of being attacked. He is no longer safe from the gangs since he spoke out against the violence. He fears for his life.

A breeding ground for disease and violence

In his part of the city, heaps of rubbish pile up along the sidewalks, leftovers ferment in the sun between the houses. Around five million people live in Cité Soleil in shacks that are simply made up of timber in a very small space, without running water.

A breeding ground for cholera, which to all misfortune broke out again last year, but has so far not spread extremely, contrary to all fears. A much more pressing problem is gang violence.

The government and police are unable to provide security. On the contrary: just in the past week, at least ten police officers were killed by gang members.

Houses are looted, burned down. The people have to flee. Kidnapping and extortion are the order of the day. Just like sexual violence.

Weaponized rape of women

Joe was on the bus when a gang stopped the driver. The 37-year-old mother recalls that all female passengers should have got out. Almost all women had been raped by gang members, because they didn’t have enough money with them.

She had to go to the hospital herself. The rape of women is used as a weapon in this war.

Gang rapes are a gruesome everyday occurrence in Haiti. Joe wants to help other women, she works for the organization SOFA. This offers psychological help for women who have experienced sexual violence.

Collusion is unavoidable

Doctors Without Borders is one of the few organizations that moves across the country. The employees often have to negotiate with the gang bosses in order to be able to take care of the local people at all, says spokesman Alexandre Marcou.

Gang members would also be treated: “They know that they need us and don’t have to pay anything for it. They clear the barricades for us so that we can get through.”

Nevertheless, he is also aware of the risk that the work entails, says Marcou. On average, MSF treats 110 gunshot wounded patients in a month.

Nothing works – neither the police nor the judiciary

The gangs have taken 100 percent control of Port-au-Prince, say people on the streets of the capital. The United Nations speaks of 60 percent.

The situation is confusing, says Rosy Auguste Ducena from the human rights organization Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH). Corruption is a massive problem. Parts of the police have close ties to the gangs.

Of course, the uncertainty also has to do with the fact that the judicial system is not working. The acts of violence would go unpunished.

Interim head of state without legitimacy?

Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry asked the international community to intervene months ago. The employee of the human rights organization criticizes that the interim prime minister can still rely on the support of the international community. However, he lacks any legitimacy.

Henry is said to be associated with certain gangs, as are sections of the opposition.

Call for new intervention

But the call for international intervention is also growing louder among the population, especially in the poor parts of the city, which primarily suffer from gang violence. Civil society organizations, on the other hand, are mostly in favor of a Haitian solution to the crisis.

Because the memory of past commitments by the blue helmets is too present. UN soldiers raped women, complicit in the abuse of minors, research shows. Blue helmets brought in cholera.

37-year-old Joe has little hope for a better future for her son. “The children who are growing up now will be forced to carry guns tomorrow. When I look at my son, he is three years old now, I feel deep sadness.”