Haiti Government Turning To Paramilitary Group It Once Sought To Stage a Coup To Fight Gangs

Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council has began enlisting members of a paramilitary group that sought to stage a coup to assist security forces as they struggle to fight armed gangs.

Concretely, Fritz Alphonse Jean, head of the council, said members of the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas will be vetted and integrated into operations alongside the Haiti National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the international security mission led by Kenya.

The brigade was originally created in 2017 to protect Haiti's natural resources but has since evolved into an armed group with unclear leadership and links to illicit activities, the Miami Herald noted. A United Nations report estimated the group has 6,000 members, many operating outside of government oversight. The UN has also raised concerns about the group's possession of illegal firearms and involvement in cross-border trafficking.

The move comes as Haiti's security forces remain under significant strain. Gang coalition Viv Ansanm has launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince and the neighboring Artibonite region, now controlling almost all of the capital.

The town of Saut-d'Eau, previously considered a refuge from the capital's violence, was among the latest targets. Armed groups burned the home of former Senate President Simon Dieusel Desras, forcing his family and other residents to flee. His wife, Bianca Shinn, said police forces in the area were unprepared and outmatched.

The gang recently stormed a prison, freeing some 500 inmates. Videos circulating on social media and picked up by the outlet showed residents fleeing, some wading through a river to escape gunfire. According to the Port-au-Prince-based human rights organization Fondasyon Je Klere, gang members traveled along the main highway to Mirebalais without encountering resistance.

The incident follows a pattern seen in previous prison breaks, including the storming of Haiti's two largest prisons last year, where some 4,000 inmates were freed.

The attacks have also disrupted medical services. The University Hospital in Mirebalais, built by Partners in Health, has seen most of its staff flee and patients evacuated. Human rights experts believe the city is being targeted because of its proximity to Belladère, a key route for weapons and contraband flowing into Haiti.

The security crisis has also heightened tensions within the government. The Transitional Presidential Council is facing calls for resignation amid growing instability. On Wednesday, riot police fired tear gas and live rounds at protesters attempting to reach government offices. The following day, former Prime Minister Claude Joseph called for the council to step down.

Jean, however, defended the council's actions in a national address and reiterated its commitment to holding elections by February 7. He blamed the crisis on drug and arms traffickers and called for urgent action to counter the growing influence of organized crime.