SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – The government of Haiti announced on Saturday the implementation of a three-month state of emergency in the central region of the country in response to the alarming rise in gang violence. This decision aims to bolster efforts against insecurity and tackle the ongoing agricultural and food crisis that has gripped the nation.
The state of emergency will encompass Haiti's West, Artibonite, and Central departments, which have been seriously affected by gang activities. These areas, referred to as Haiti's rice basket, have faced increasing violence in recent years, with gang members targeting farmers, either killing them or forcing them to vacate their fields, thus devastating local communities.
According to the United Nations human rights office, between October 2024 and the end of June 2025, over 1,000 individuals have been killed, more than 200 injured, and 620 kidnapped across the Artibonite and Central departments, along with surrounding areas. The rampant gang violence has also led to the displacement of over 239,000 people in Haiti’s central region, highlighting the human toll of the crisis. In a desperate bid to escape the violence, many residents resorted to wading and swimming across the country’s largest river in late April as gangs intensified their attacks.
In light of the escalating violence, the Haitian government appointed a new interim director general for the National Police on Friday. Andrè Jonas Vladimir Paraison has stepped into the role, succeeding former police director general Normil Rameau, who faced criticism for his inability to effectively address the rampant gang violence that has seen gangs control up to 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Rameau had previously cited severe underfunding within the police department as a significant obstacle to restoring order.
Paraison has prior experience as the head of security at Haiti's National Palace and was present as a police officer during the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse at his private residence in July 2021. His appointment is part of a broader strategy to rein in violence in collaboration with Kenyan police officers who are currently assisting the National Police under a U.N.-backed mission aimed at reducing gang-related activities.
These changes in leadership come at a critical time as Laurent Saint-Cyr, a prominent businessman, has taken the helm of Haiti's transitional presidential council, with the responsibility of organizing elections scheduled for February 2026. This context underscores the urgency of addressing the multifaceted crises facing Haiti, where governance and security challenges continue to threaten stability.
