Haiti announces emergency measures due to escalating gang-related violence
In the Caribbean republic of Haiti, a population of nearly 12 million people, the security and political situation remains highly unstable and violent in 2025. The transitional presidential council, consisting of nine members and a prime minister, has been leading the government since June 2024.
The council aims to stabilize the country and pave the way for democratic elections in November. However, gang violence has escalated significantly, with over 1,520 killed between April and June 2025 alone, mostly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, Artibonite, and Centre departments. Armed criminal groups control nearly 90% of the capital and surrounding areas, committing widespread human rights abuses including murders, kidnappings, sexual violence, and exploitation.
This violence has caused massive population displacement, weakening humanitarian access and public services. Humanitarian agencies report severe funding shortfalls impact their ability to provide critical services, particularly sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence support for displaced women and girls.
Regarding recent political developments, no direct confirmation has been found on a new National Police chief appointment. However, the ongoing calls from the UN and human rights bodies emphasize the urgent need for strengthening and vetting the Haitian National Police as part of security reforms.
The state of emergency remains effectively in place as the government and international community grapple with escalating violence and humanitarian crises. While there is no explicit labeling of an ongoing state of emergency in the search results, calls to intensify the fight against gangs and human rights violations underscore a continuation of emergency measures.
The new rotating president of the transitional presidential council is businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr. The decision to declare a state of emergency aims to facilitate a comprehensive mobilization of the state's resources to restore security and peace. The state of emergency applies to the central regions of Ouest, Artibonite, and Centre, which include the capital Port-au-Prince.
The appointment of a new National Police chief is part of the measures taken to restore security and peace. The international community supports the deployment of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission to help combat gang violence, but implementation and impact remain challenged.
It's important to note that Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and the insecurity in the country is negatively impacting the lives of citizens and various economic sectors. Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, making the current crisis even more dire.
In conclusion, Haiti in mid-2025 faces a grave security crisis marked by rampant gang violence, a fragile or transitional political leadership struggling to exercise control, and a humanitarian emergency exacerbated by limited access and underfunding. While specific details on new police leadership or formal state of emergency declarations in 2025 are not clearly documented in recent reports, the security situation is extensively described as critical and deteriorating.
- The transitional presidential council, in an attempt to restore peace and order, has announced the appointment of a new National Police chief and declared a state of emergency in the central regions, which include the capital Port-au-Prince.
- Amidst the escalating crime-and-justice issues and political instability, general-news reports suggest that the current crisis in Haiti, marked by rampant gang violence, is negatively impacting the lives of its citizens and various economic sectors, making it the poorest country in the Americas.
