Haiti faces a critical juncture as the political transition set to expire on 7 February collides with escalating violence, entrenched criminal networks, and growing humanitarian needs. Officials warn that without urgent and sustained security and political efforts, the country risks sliding further into instability.
Carlos Ruiz-Massieu, head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), described the country as entering a “critical phase” in restoring democratic institutions. He urged Haitian actors to limit political fragmentation, prioritise elections, and ensure continuity of governance beyond the February deadline. Ruiz-Massieu noted encouraging steps toward elections, including the adoption of an electoral decree on 1 December and the publication of a polling calendar later that month. Reforms on voter registration, overseas voting, and women’s representation could enhance inclusivity if effectively implemented.
Security conditions remain fragile. Gangs continue to carry out coordinated attacks, seize key economic and agricultural areas, and displace thousands, placing extreme pressure on police and humanitarian services. The murder rate in 2025 rose nearly 20 percent compared to 2024. While police operations supported by the Gang Suppression Force have reopened roads in parts of Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite Department, and state presence has returned to areas around the capital’s Champ de Mars, these gains remain vulnerable without sustained enforcement and basic service delivery.
The nature of gang activity is evolving. According to John Brandolino of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), once-fragmented gangs have reorganised into structured criminal networks with defined leadership, territorial ambitions, and diverse revenue streams. Coalitions like Viv Ansanm have launched large-scale attacks on police, prisons, and economic infrastructure, consolidating control over Port-au-Prince and strategic corridors to Artibonite and Plateau Central. Extortion has become a primary source of income, alongside drug, weapons, and ammunition trafficking.
The crisis increasingly affects the region due to adaptive arms-trafficking routes, illicit financial flows, and corruption. Traffickers continue to circumvent enforcement through weaker ports and offshore channels. Both UNODC and BINUH officials emphasised the need for the Multinational Security Support Mission to transition to the Gang Suppression Force, along with the establishment of the UN Support Office in Haiti, calling for predictable funding and ongoing international support.
Beyond security, Haiti faces severe humanitarian challenges. Approximately 6.4 million people require assistance, yet the country remains one of the least-funded humanitarian responses globally, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action across security, governance, and humanitarian sectors.
