Haiti Report, August 20, 2025
A compilation of news about Haiti from the past week.
OAS Secretary General Presents Roadmap for Haiti to Permanent Council
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) held a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 20, at 10:00 a.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. GMT) in the Simon Bolivar Room at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, to hear Secretary General Albert Ramdin's presentation, entitled "Toward a Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti, with Regional and International Support" among other topics, the hemispheric organization announced in a statement on Monday, August 18, 2025.
"The roadmap is a hemispheric proposal to support Haiti, which seeks to combine immediate stabilization with long-term structural reforms. It is designed as a flexible and dynamic framework, inspired by Haitian leadership and through close coordination with regional and international partners," reads the OAS statement, which recently shared the draft of a "Haiti-led roadmap for stability and peace with regional and international support."
Developed by the OAS, the draft includes five pillars of intervention, with an estimate of 1.3 billion dollars, including 908.2 million US dollars to finance the humanitarian response, 96 million for the stabilization of security and the restoration of peace, 5.1 million for political consensus and support for governance, 104.1 million for the electoral process and institutional legitimacy. The OAS roadmap project is widely criticized by Haitians, who see it as yet another sleight of hand to waste the country's time. https://lenouvelliste.com/article/259048/oea-le-secretaire-general-presentera-la-feuille-de-route-pour-haiti-au-conseil-permanent
Trump administration signs on to U.N. chief’s plan for tackling Haiti’s gangs
Six months after United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres proposed that the global organization take on some of the funding for the multinational force that’s been struggling to tackle violent gangs in Haiti, the Trump administration says it is ready to support the plan. “The United States intends to share a draft U.N. Security Council Resolution with the U.N. Security Council that establishes a U.N. Support Office for a multinational security force in Haiti,” a State Department spokesperson confirmed to the Miami Herald. The spokesperson did not say when the resolution will be presented for a vote, but sources said it may come up at a Security Council meeting about children, armed conflict and human rights in Haiti. The discussion is being planned by Panama, which is presiding over the Security Council this month.
“U.S. backing for the logistics package will breathe new life into discussions” about the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, said Daniel Forti, a senior U.N. analyst with the International Crisis Group. “But Washington can’t presume the other Security Council members will easily go along with them after months of delay. Gangs have increased their control of Port-au-Prince while the U.S. slow-walked its deliberations. American diplomats should prepare for the heavy lift needed to get this effort over the finish line.” The operations contract for the base in Haiti for the Kenyan force expires on Sept. 30, the day the mission’s one-year mandate is up for renewal before the Security Council. Asked about funding for the base, a U.S. Defense Department spokesperson said the Pentagon “provided an extension to the MSS,” but declined to discuss details.
Former Presidential Candidate Harry Bretous Shot Dead in Pèlerin
Businessman and former presidential candidate Harry Bretous was fatally shot in Pèlerin 2 on Sunday, August 17, 2025, Le Nouvelliste has learned. He was struck while driving his vehicle. According to witnesses, the shooter was riding a motorcycle, and in the absence of explanations from police and judicial authorities, the motive for this homicide remains unknown. On his X account, Mr. Bretous presented himself as a businessman, an entrepreneur, and the president of the political party “Mete Ayiti Kanpe.” He described himself as a nationalist, a staunch defender of State authority, order, discipline, and social progress. He had also created the Harry Bretous Foundation. On August 16, 2025, one day before his death, he posted a message on his X account: “What does Haiti want? What do Haitians want, or rather, what does the political and ruling class want?
Student accidentally shot to death by MENFP security officer
The shooting death of Zamy Wanderson, a young basketball prospect and member of the 56th class of the Collège Canado-Haïtien, killed on August 18, 2025 in Delmas 83, is deeply saddening. In a note consulted by AlterPresse, the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) said it "unreservedly condemns" the act that cost the life of Wanderson Zamy, aged 19, who had just graduated from high school. Zamy Wanderson died after being shot in the abdomen while riding behind a motorcyclist. The driver, who was also injured, is not believed to be in danger. The incident occurred when a MENFP security officer, in Delmas 83, drew his weapon to disperse a demonstration by trainee teachers, AlterPresse has learned. The MENFP specifies that Minister Augustin Antoine met with the victim's parents on Tuesday, August 19, and expressed his sympathy to the grieving family and loved ones. Zamy Wanderson had just completed high school at Collège Canado-Haïtien and was awaiting official results. In addition to basketball, he had a passion for social media and was very popular on TikTok, according to accounts received by AlterPresse. "Wanderson Zamy, a destroyed life, a wasted promise, a broken dream, the dream of a concerned socio-professional, the dream of a great basketball player, the dream of a responsible influencer who wanted to use social media positively," summarizes the MENFP.
Towards the opening of an investigation? The MENFP claims to be working in conjunction with the police and the courts to shed light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic death. "The search for the truth in this situation is a responsibility of the ministry and a moral obligation towards the family, the educational community and the entire population," explains the MENFP. The Ministry takes this opportunity to remind social partners of the need to always use institutional mechanisms that facilitate exchanges and help to accelerate the search for solutions in the interest of the school. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32116
PNH hit by persistent gang violence in Kenscoff
Two members of the security forces died in hospital on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, after being attacked the day before by gangs in the commune of Kenscoff (east of Port-au-Prince), Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesperson for the Haitian National Police, confirmed to AlterPresse. Three others, who were injured during the attack by the thugs, are in a worrying condition. These police officers are part of the Departmental Operations and Intervention Brigade (BOID). On the evening of Tuesday, August 12, 2025, a PNH patrol was ambushed by bandits in the Téléco area. The police officers returned fire before managing to retreat, but several of them were hit. A (new) armored police vehicle was subsequently set on fire. "We have recorded far too many deaths among our colleagues. Too many police officers have lost their lives without any offensive to counter armed gangs in their strongholds," the National Union of the Haitian National Police (SPNH-17) complained in a note. "The time has come to respond to violence with maximum force," the police union maintains, urging the new director general of the PNH, Vladimir Paraison, to act quickly, given the gravity of the situation. The SPNH-17 calls on members of the National Police High Council (CSPN) to take urgent measures to put an end to this "masquerade" taking place in Kenscoff. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32099
Mayor Massillon Jean Raises Alarm: “Kenscoff Must Not Fall!”
Alarmed after the latest armed gang attack in Kenscoff on Saturday, August 16, the mayor of this commune called on state authorities to take all necessary measures to dismantle the gangs based there. Massillon Jean stated that gangs are present in the communal sections of Obléon, Godet, Belot, Sourcailles, Bongars, Clemenceau, Plato Fisi, Carrefour Badjo, Timiska, Kajak, among others. “It has been six months and 21 days since the bandits burst into the commune, ransacked the peasants’ crops, killed peasants, destroyed and burned their houses, stolen their livestock. Despite letters addressed to the highest state authorities asking them to support the soldiers of the FAd’H, the PNH agents of the Brigade for the Security of Protected Areas (BSAP) so that they could find the necessary means to respond to the gangs’ actions, the situation has worsened more each day,” he complained. “It is imperative to act quickly: Kenscoff must not fall. The strategic site known as Téléco must receive special attention. Security there is insufficient and must be reinforced to protect this space and, more broadly, the strategic areas of the commune. Currently, only ten police officers are deployed at this vast site, which makes total control of the area impossible. Several attacks have already taken place there—about four to five. During the two most recent, two Kenyan armored vehicles and a police armored vehicle were set on fire, and two police officers lost their lives,” he detailed.
https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/259049/mayor-massillon-jean-raises-alarm-kenscoff-must-not-fall
Drone explosion in Kenscoff kills two police officers
Two police officers were killed and two others seriously injured on the evening of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, when a suicide drone exploded at the base of the specialized SWAT units in Kenscoff (eastern outskirts of Port-au-Prince), several sources confirmed. According to an official statement, consulted by AlterPresse, the device was transported by residents "in a gesture of good faith" before causing the deadly explosion. The incident comes in an already tense context, marked by a resurgence of armed attacks in the commune of Kenscoff. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils Aimé, who is also president of the National Police High Council (CSPN), praised the "courage, dedication and sacrifice" of the police officers, reaffirming that "all necessary measures will be taken to protect the police and strengthen national security." In another statement, the general management of the Haitian National Police (PNH) indicated that relief was mobilized quickly and that an investigation is open to determine the exact circumstances of the event.
For its part, the Haitian National Police Union (SPNH-17) questioned the official version, believing that "the situation is more worrying than what is presented." The union is demanding clear answers about the drone's origin and why SWAT units are being specifically targeted. He calls on the police to remain mobilized in order to demand the arrest of the material and intellectual perpetrators of "this unprecedented crime." This incident comes a week after the deadly attack of August 12, 2025, during which two police officers from the Departmental Operations and Intervention Brigade (BOID) were killed and three others injured, also in Kenscoff. Several armored vehicles belonging to the PNH and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMAS) were also set on fire by gangs, who are increasing their attacks in the area. Many localities in Kenscoff – including Kafou Bèt, Bélot, Kavri, Koupi and Godet – remain under persistent threat from armed groups, despite repeated calls from local and international authorities for a coordinated response.
https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32119
State Department human rights report on Haiti omits much, but criticizes police abuses
The rising number of extrajudicial killings carried out by Haitian police is once more coming under scrutiny, this time by the U.S. State Department. The Trump administration noted the arbitrary killing of civilians by Haitian police and government agents in its long-awaited annual assessment of human rights in 198 countries and territories. The report highlights, among other things, the case of a prosecutor who is alleged to have killed dozens of people this year, and an incident last year in which Haitian police allowed gunshot victims who were being transported by an international medical charity to be turned over to an angry mob.
The report also noted Haiti’s worsening violence by armed gangs and their expansion into previously unaffected regions, including the Artibonite and the center of the country. However, unlike in previous reports, this year’s assessment did not include a section on people who have been forced to flee their homes or whether the government has taken steps to deal with the situation, nor did it include a section on government corruption. The report also doesn’t discuss the impact the gang violence is having on access to food, education, shelter, clean water and healthcare, all of which are repeatedly stressed by human rights advocates in and outside of Haiti. Quietly released last week, this year’s report was not accompanied by the usual fanfare of a public briefing by the secretary of state. Instead, it was rolled out a half-year late and “streamlined,” omitting mentions about harsh prison conditions and human rights violations targeting LGBTQ people.
Still, the report’s criticism of the role of the Haiti National Police and government agents in carrying out human-rights abuses is part of a growing concern about the lack of accountability as security forces try to wrest back control from deadly armed gangs. “Impunity remained a significant problem” within the Haiti National Police, the report by the U.S. government, which is a leading funder of Haiti’s national police, said. “Civil society representatives alleged widespread misconduct among police officers driven largely by poor training and a lack of professionalism.”
Only a handful of Haiti’s displacement camps protect women from sexual violence, UN warns
Barely more than one in ten camps provide any safeguards against sexual violence, leaving thousands of women and girls exposed to abuse as the country’s humanitarian crisis deepens and the United States scales back support, a United Nations official warned. The new data announced on Monday Aug. 18 on the gap in services comes as more than one million Haitians are now displaced by gang violence, with women and girls bearing the brunt. Reports of gang rape and other abuses are widespread in overcrowded camps, where families are forced to share tiny spaces and safety is almost nonexistent.
The UN reproductive health agency’s humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, Christian Vovi of UNFPA, told UN News on Monday that with only about 12 of the country’s roughly 100 displacement camps offering real protection for women, the numbers reflect a “desperate” reality. “When you talk with women, they are struggling to secure even the most basic necessities,” Vovi said. “Many turn to prostitution to survive, he added, as financial resources vanish and violence spreads unchecked.”
The UN says cases of gender-based violence have continued to rise as displacement expands. In some reported attacks, gang members have burned homes and raped parents in front of their children. With police unable to respond and aid agencies stretched thin, victims are left with few options for protection or justice. The United States’ funding cuts have worsened the situation. Once the top donor to Haiti’s humanitarian plan, the U.S., has scaled back support, forcing UNFPA to shut down sexual and reproductive health centers, while stocks of post-rape kits are nearly depleted.
https://haitiantimes.com/2025/08/19/haiti-displacement-camps-women-sexual-violence-un/
Inside Haiti’s Displacement Camps
More than 1 million people — around 10% of the country’s population — have been forced to flee their neighborhoods, according to the International Organization for Migration. In Port-au-Prince alone, 108 improvised displacement sites have emerged, set up in abandoned schools, empty lots or even narrow alleyways blocked off with makeshift barriers. With each wave of armed incursions — where armed groups violently take over neighborhoods — camps like the Caroline Chauveau National School, or the one near the Rex Theatre, and another in the Office for the Protection of Citizens in Bourdon, grow even more dense as fleeing people seek safety. “Sleeping here is a nightmare,” Rosiane Philidor, in the Caroline Chauveau camp, tells Truthdig. She is staying there with two of her four children and her husband after escaping the suburb of Savane Pistache. “We fled with nothing. And now, with all the ongoing gunfire around the camp during clashes between the police and gangs, I don’t feel safe at all. I can’t live like this anymore.” The stories I’m told share a common thread: that within the blue tarps of the camps, amid trash, overcrowding and extreme vulnerability to violence, women bear the heaviest burden. A recent U.N. report noted that with the increased violence and instability, women’s unpaid care workload has increased, sexual and gender-based violence have increased and 65% of female-headed households in the displacement camps face acute food insecurity. https://www.truthdig.com/articles/inside-haitis-displacement-camps/
New graphics and maps on displaced people
Although 45% of displaced persons listed throughout Haiti’s provinces originate from the capital, most of those left in the city can not flee, as main roads are under gang control & the international airport has been shut down since Nov. 2024. Graphic: https://x.com/MakyavelStudios/status/1957902892989354111
From Makyavel Studios on X: 300 000 internally displaced persons are currently roaming the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. In the past 4 years, territories have been lost, homes have been pillaged, burned, destroyed - so have state institutions, police stations & penitentiaries. Map: https://x.com/MakyavelStudios/status/1957875396143182302
Changes Continue in Haitian National Police Leadership
The Haitian National Police (PNH) continues its reshuffles in the top hierarchy, under the authority of the Acting Director General, André Jonas Vladimir PARAISON, while insecurity remains high and heavily armed gangs continue to challenge law enforcement in several areas of the country, observes AlterPresse. On Monday, August 18, 2025, Inspector General Justin MARC was installed as the new Central Director of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), replacing Inspector General Pierre René FRANÇOIS. He promised to work closely with all staff to revitalize the DCPJ and strengthen the fight against crime. Inspector General Frédéric LECONTE, former Central Director of the DCPJ, has taken up the duties of Chief Inspector General (IGC) of the General Inspectorate of the PNH (IGPNH), replacing Frantz THERMILUS. His installation ceremony took place on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, in Clercine 8, commune of Tabarre.
In the area of personnel, Inspector General Jean Maurest ÉTIENNE has been installed as Director of Personnel (DP) of the PNH, succeeding Inspector General Stanley AUGUSTIN. Chief Commissioner Sergo DASMY has been appointed as his deputy. At the police station level, Chief Commissioner Franck MERISIER takes over as head of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport police station, while Nacius Junior LACOMBE becomes the new head of the Delmas police station (northeastern outskirts).
Reminder of the first changes – August 9 and 11, 2025: The first moves in the top hierarchy marked the beginning of this reorganization. Inspector General Berson SOLJOUR was appointed Chief of Staff, succeeding Smith Péyo, while Inspector General Jacques Joël ORIVAL took over as head of the Central Directorate of Administrative Police (DCPA), replacing Arol Enol Alphonse. At the same time, Alain AUGUSTE has been appointed to the Central Directorate of Administration and General Services (DCASG), and Frenel SAINTIL has taken up the post of Director of Logistics. These appointments aim to strengthen and modernize the PNH's command structures in a context of increased combat against crime and armed gangs. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32112
RNDDH Denounces Scandal Over Sunrise Monopoly and AAN’s Role
The National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) has published an open letter to the Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications (MTPTC), Raphaël Hosty, regarding air traffic in Haiti. In this correspondence, reviewed by Le Nouvelliste, the human rights organization denounced the stranglehold of the airline Sunrise on the market, in collusion with the Haitian regulator, while providing mediocre service to customers. The RNDDH also denounced the fact that this company’s debts to the Haitian state have, in some cases, been reduced and, in others, erased by the National Airport Authority (AAN), to the detriment of the public interest.
Regarding the monopoly, the RNDDH points out that since 2024, Sunrise Airways has held a monopoly on commercial flights in Haiti. “What at first seemed to be merely the consequence of the worsening security situation in the country is, in fact, the result of the clear intent of state authorities to grant the monopoly of the market in question to said company. Indeed, in addition to the numerous difficulties raised by other airlines which, without any valid reason, are denied all access to the Haitian air market, the RNDDH cites as evidence an interview granted on July 15, 2025, by the founder and president of Sunrise Airways, Pierre-Louis Philippe BAYARD, to the online outlet Ayibopost, in which he clearly expressed his strong opposition to opening the Haitian market to a competing airline,” reads the letter, lamenting the absence of any reaction from the minister to this statement by the Sunrise CEO. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/258969/rnddh-denounces-scandal-over-sunrise-monopoly-and-aans-role
Trump ally Erik Prince plans to keep forces in Haiti for 10 years
The prominent Donald Trump supporter and private security executive Erik Prince says he plans to keep his forces in Haiti for 10 years under an arrangement that will eventually give his firm a role in the country's tax-collection system. In an interview with Reuters, Prince said his company, Vectus Global, had reached a 10-year agreement with the Haitian government to fight the country's criminal gangs and set up a tax collection system. After the security situation is stabilized, the firm would be involved in designing and implementing a program to tax goods imported across Haiti's border with the Dominican Republic, he said. He said he expected to wrestle control of major roads and territories from the gangs in about a year. “One key measure of success for me will be when you can drive from Port-au-Prince to Cap Haitian in a thin-skinned vehicle and not be stopped by gangs,” Prince said in the interview. Prince would not comment about how much the Haitian government would pay Vectus Global, nor how much tax he expects to collect in Haiti.
The new president of the transitional council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, who was inaugurated on August 7 as part of a planned rotation of council leaders, did not respond to requests for comment. Haiti's former council president and prime minister also did not respond to requests for comment. Vectus began operating in Haiti in March, deploying mainly drones in coordination with a task force led by the prime minister, but the long-term engagement and the involvement in tax collection have not been previously reported. A person familiar with the company's operations in Haiti told Reuters that Vectus would intensify its fight against the criminal gangs that control large swathes of Haiti in the coming weeks, deploying several hundred fighters from the United States, Europe and El Salvador who are trained as snipers and specialists in intelligence and communications, as well as helicopters and boats.
Haiti’s transitional government is brokering a deal to take control of its porous border with the Dominican Republic, which has become a gateway for illegal weapons, by giving a private firm control of security and tax collection. A Haitian government official aware of the discussions confirmed to the Miami Herald that negotiations are ongoing for border control and debt collection by restructuring customs and PoliFRONT, the specialized Haitian border police unit charged with securing the 243-mile borders with the Dominican Republic, the country’s biggest trade partner. “No contract has been signed,” said the official, disputing a Reuters story that quoted private security executive and Donald Trump supporter Erik Prince that he has signed a long-term agreement with the Haitian government. As part of the 10-year agreement, according to the story, Prince’s company, Vectus Global, would design and carry out a program to tax goods imported across the border, which currently help funnel between $60 million to $70 million to gangs that control key transport routes. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said he has not seen Vectus Global’s name. However, another source said there are several companies, including Prince’s, that are vying for the border contract. A spokesman for Vectus Global told the Herald the company has “a year-long program to help the government defeat the gangs and a longer-term role advising the government on how to restore revenue collection capabilities once the situation stabilizes. We want to help the Haitians increase their capacity to defeat these terrorist groups, get their country back, and then reinstate essential services which have been missing for the past few years.” In addition to consulting on security issues, the firm provides a range of services, the company notes, adding that a task force operating out of the prime minister’s office that is leading the response to gangs is using advice from Vectus. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article311704944.html#storylink=cpy
Former Senator Nenel Cassy released after 17 days of investigation
Former Nippes senator Nenel Cassy regained his freedom early in the evening of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, after being arrested on August 2, 2025 by agents of the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) on criminal charges, AlterPresse learned from combined sources. The former parliamentarian was heard by the Government Commissioner, Mr. Frantz Monclair, who subsequently ordered his release. A few hours earlier, Nenel Cassy was taken to the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance, where several dozen of his supporters were present. About a week ago, his lawyers filed a habeas corpus action with Dean Bernard Saint-Vil to challenge the legality of his detention at the DCPJ. Several searches had been carried out by the National Police, notably in places he frequented regularly. The Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) had seized various materials, including a laptop, a mobile phone, a camera and other objects. The former senator, elected under the banner of the Fanmi Lavalas party, was facing several charges, including homicide and gang affiliation. He had been sanctioned by the United States and Canada for his involvement in the deteriorating security climate in Haiti. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32117
An Ohio City Faces a Future Without Haitian Workers
For four years, Mr. Rinvil, a Haitian immigrant, had pressed steel into car parts at McGregor Metal. While the work was grueling, it offered a stable income, health insurance, a 401(k). And Mr. Rinvil, who turns 46 this week, thrived there, relieved to be away from his home country, which had descended into lawlessness and gang violence. “You leave your home to survive, you do everything right,” he said in an interview four days before his departure. But “they don’t like you, they don’t want you.” Mr. Rinvil was among more than 10,000 Haitians who in recent years settled in this working-class city of 60,000. They were welcomed by a Republican governor and business leaders who needed workers to power companies that had been enticed to invest millions here. Over the last four years, Springfield had rebounded, thanks in large part to the arrival of Haitian immigrants.
The newcomers staffed auto plants, packed ready-to-eat salads at Dole and sorted packages at Amazon. They filled church pews, enrolled their children in schools and began to buy homes. But as the political winds shifted, so did their prospects — and, perhaps, Springfield’s as well. The city became a flashpoint in the national immigration debate last year, when Mr. Trump, from the debate stage, amplified a baseless claim by his running mate, JD Vance, that Haitians there were stealing and eating pets.
After the election, the Trump administration terminated some humanitarian programs that had allowed Haitians and other immigrants to live and work legally in the United States. Employers in the Springfield area have had to let go of hundreds. In February 2026, thousands more are expected to lose their jobs when the administration ends Temporary Protected Status, a separate program that shields people from deportation to countries in crisis. Many Haitian families in Springfield face two bleak options: leave the United States entirely or remain without lawful status, dependent on underground work and vulnerable to arrest and deportation. There is no official tally of how many Haitians have already left, but pastors, employers and others say dozens of Haitians have already left.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/us/springfield-ohio-haitian-immigrants-trump.html
Telecom Failures Deepen Isolation of Haiti’s Southern Region
For more than four weeks, a communication problem has isolated the Greater South from the rest of the country. The cause: the severing of one of Digicel’s underground cables. This situation has further plunged the population of this region into isolation, while it was already cut off from the rest of the country due to inaccessible roads. On Sunday, July 27, residents of the Greater South suddenly lost access to most services of Digicel, the local leader in telecommunications. For several months, these outages have become recurrent. During the first six months of 2025, the company experienced no fewer than four major breakdowns, some of which lasted for several days. Each time, the company’s CEO, Jean Philippe Brun, cited “cuts to international fiber optic cables.”
However, the outage of July 27 stands out from the others because of its duration, extending for nearly a month, in addition to affecting only the Greater South region. Moreover, while in previous outages Digicel had made a habit of informing consumers about the causes, the trend has shifted this time: since the end of July, there has been total radio silence. No statement has clarified the causes of this outage, which has cut off several million users from the rest of the country. Our request for an interview with the company went unanswered. According to other information we gathered from consistent sources, the sabotage of Digicel’s infrastructure has become a way for bandits to extort money from the company, which each time has to “negotiate” with the gang leaders in order to carry out repairs.
In Carrefour, a municipality abandoned by state authorities and controlled by armed gangs, the problem has reached a more critical point. In the face of the company’s “refusal” to pay the exorbitant sum demanded by the criminals, the keys to several antennas were seized by the gang leaders, according to our sources. “The keys will be returned to you when your company agrees to talk to us,” a gang leader reportedly told a homeowner who hosts one of the company’s antennas. While this practice allows armed groups to enrich themselves, it has economic consequences for the company, which must deal with increasingly significant losses. The first victims of these acts of sabotage are the customers. As for the gangs, they can do without mobile phone company services for their communications, which are now carried out via the Starlink satellite Internet network or through walkie-talkies, of which they possess a large number.
Les Cayes Botanical Garden Faces Serious Threats
Founded in 2003 on a plot of about six hectares in southern Haiti, this garden is a refuge for the country’s plant diversity, sheltering rare species, some of which are found nowhere else. Created by agronomist William Cinéa, this living study site is threatened by the lack of follow-up on a sale process initiated in 2018. The dispute involves the Paloma family, which owns the land, the Haitian State through the Ministry of the Environment, and the garden’s founder. Environmental activists regret that, if this unique place were to close, it would endanger an ecological heritage of immense value. The Botanical Garden of Les Cayes was born from a great dream: to make Haiti greener. Thanks to a loan from the National Credit Bank (BNC), William Cinéa rented the land to establish this center dedicated to the protection and study of Haitian plants. The garden is well organized, with one department studying medicinal plants, another focusing on landscaping, and a third working with Haitian and foreign universities. “Before, we welcomed more than 500 students a year, coming from different regions throughout the country,” recalls Mr. Cinéa, noting that the creation of a botanical garden by the State is a constitutional requirement. In 2018, the Paloma family, owner of the land, proposed selling it at a price of US $150,000 per carreau. Unable to raise this sum, William Cinéa turned to the Haitian State. On October 30, 2018, an agreement appeared to have been reached between the Ministry of the Environment, through the National Agency of Protected Areas (ANAP), and Bruno Paloma, heir of the estate, accompanied by his spouse. Jeantel Joseph, then director of ANAP, and agronomist Prenord Couteau had agreed on this price. However, the agreement was never finalized, notably because Mr. Bruno Paloma and his wife had not provided the required property titles to complete the land purchase. Since then, the case has stagnated, and the situation has become more complicated with the involvement of Bruno Paloma’s wife, now managing family assets since her husband’s recent trip to the United States.
Unlike her husband, who was open to the sale, Bruno Paloma’s spouse firmly opposes any transfer of the land. According to sources close to the case, she considers the parcel to be an inalienable family asset, reserved for personal projects. She is reportedly planning to build a residence on the site—a decision that directly threatens the garden’s existence. “Tree cutting has already begun, and measures are being taken to start construction work. The gates giving access to the Garden have been changed, more than six people have been hired to clear what they claim are weeds, which in reality are some of the rarest plants in the country,” laments William Cinéa. This hardline stance has led to a legal battle.
https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/259038/les-cayes-botanical-garden-faces-serious-threats
Prime Minister Announces $67.5 Million Plan for Referendum and Elections
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé announced in his budget guidelines letter for 2025-2026 that a total of 67.5 million dollars is planned for the holding of the constitutional referendum and elections in the “coming months,” in accordance with the April 3, 2024 Agreement. “[…] The Government has already undertaken a set of concrete initiatives with a view to holding the upcoming elections. The referendum decree, published on July 3, 2025, marks a decisive step in the effective triggering of the electoral process. The Basket Fund intended to finance the electoral process, initially established at 39 million US dollars as of November 30, 2024, was subsequently reinforced by an additional contribution of 10 million dollars. Furthermore, supplementary funding of 27.5 million dollars is scheduled to feed into it by September 2025,” reads this budget guidelines letter dated August 8, 2025. “A draft of the new Constitution was put forward for debate in May 2025 in order to gather reactions and proposals from the Haitian people. These advances are part of the perspective of a national referendum to be organized in the coming months, followed by inclusive general elections, in accordance with the April 3, 2024 Agreement,” continues the letter of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
“Constitutional reform is unavoidable for the reorganization of society. It constitutes the indispensable foundation for the reconstruction of the rule of law and the lasting restoration of democratic order. Moreover, the organization of credible elections and the transfer of power to democratically elected authorities represent the ultimate objective of the ongoing political transition. The Government intends to make the upcoming elections a decisive turning point for Haitian democracy. To that end, it is important to strengthen the operational capacities of the CEP, ensure the complete security of the electoral process, guarantee the delivery of voting materials across the entire territory, and adequately train electoral agents. The introduction of reliable technologies will aim to improve the transparency of the ballot and to limit the risks of fraud. Awareness campaigns will also be carried out, particularly targeting young people, women, and rural populations, in order to encourage broad, inclusive, and civic participation,” reads this budget guidelines letter of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who maintains that, in accordance with this agreement, power must be handed over to elected officials on February 7, 2026. The Prime Minister said nothing regarding the controversy sparked by the draft text of the new constitution. In the meantime, there are enormous logistical and security challenges ahead. Voters and candidates will have to enter into referendum and election mode against a backdrop of armed gang violence and a state of security emergency decreed by his own government in the West, Artibonite, and Center. The state of emergency is set to expire next November, two and a half months before February 7, 2026.https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/259019/prime-minister-announces-675-million-plan-for-referendum-and-elections
Haiti Heads For Seventh Consecutive Year of Negative Growth
The 2025-2026 budget framework letter, signed by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, paints a stark picture of the national economic situation. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, projections predict a contraction in real GDP of 3.1%, while the initial forecast was for unitary growth. By comparison, global growth, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), remains moderate at 2.8%, despite trade and geopolitical tensions. The document provides a review of the various quarters of the fiscal year as it draws to a close. In the first half of the current fiscal year, "economic activity continued to contract, registering a decline of 2.6% compared to the same period of the previous year." The productive sectors are particularly affected: agriculture (-5.8%), construction (-6.6%), and hotels and restaurants (-6.8%). The letter attributes this situation to "the deterioration of the security climate, the slowdown in public investment, the fragility of supply chains, and growing obstacles to the movement of goods and people."
Inflation remains high, although slightly declining. "It stood at 27.2% year-on-year in May 2025 compared to 28.3% in May 2024," the document notes. The largest increases concern housing and energy (+41.5%), communications (+39.7%), and food products (+29.9%). This "inflationary dynamic, largely fueled by security disruptions and rising transport costs, continues to erode the purchasing power of the population and compromise the real impact of public policies." Public finances show mixed progress. "Revenue collected in 2025 amounted to 143.7 billion gourdes, representing 66.1% of the target set for the fiscal year, a nominal increase of 15% compared to the previous year." But the overall expenditure execution rate remains low: 54.3% as of June 30, 2025.
Okap Flavors: Between Entrepreneurship and Culture, Cap-Haïtien in Bloom
From Wednesday, August 13 to Sunday, August 17, 2025, Cap-Haïtien vibrated to the rhythm of "Okap Flavors," billed as the largest economic and cultural event ever organized in the North department. The 3rd edition of "Haïti Flowers" took place without incident in the beautifully decorated premises of the Brothers of Christian Instruction (FIC). "The event is organized to promote entrepreneurship. It gives more than 200 entrepreneurs the opportunity to show the Cap-d'Agde public what they are capable of. For us, it's the most important event of the year," said Bradley Alexandre, co-founder of "Sakapfet Okap" and one of the organizers. A unique feature of this edition: the entrepreneurs were not pre-selected. They freely exhibited their wares and presented their projects. The stated goal was to attract more than 7,000 visitors, gathered in a single space to discover well-established companies like Coca-Cola and BonGú, as well as emerging startups, such as "Bach Flowers," which is looking to establish itself in Cap-Haïtien. "Our ambition is to provide opportunities for both large and small businesses, so that everyone knows about their products and services, and so that the local public can take ownership of them," added Mr. Alexandre. https://lenouvelliste.com/article/259046/okap-flavors-entre-entrepreneuriat-et-culture-le-cap-haitien-en-fleurs
ANALYSIS
Private Sector Assumes Control of Haitian State as DC Lobbying Picks up Pace
By Jake Johnston at Center for Economic and Policy Research
On August 7, Laurent Saint-Cyr, the one-time head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti, was sworn in as president of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). He is set to lead the council through the end of its mandate in February 2026. With the position of prime minister held by fellow businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and no elected officials holding office at any level, the government is directly in the hands of the private sector — a first in the recent history of Haiti, a country with some of the highest inequality rates in the world and where oligarchical state capture has hampered development for centuries.
“Private sector actors played a role in creating this chaos,” Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist who held the rotating presidency of the council prior to Saint-Cyr, told Ayibopost. “When the private sector controls both branches of the executive, it raises legitimate concerns.” The week prior, there were allegations of attempts to thwart the transfer from Jean to Saint-Cyr or even to remove the prime minister — stoked by a social media post from the US State Department referencing vague reports of “bribery.” Jean denied any untoward attempt at blocking Saint-Cyr or removing File-Aimé, even while acknowledging his concerns over the private sector’s consolidation atop the government. But the US statement sent a clear message: the US was once again picking sides in Haiti’s internal politics.
Notably, the ascension of private sector actors in the political space is taking place at the same time as perhaps greater than ever scrutiny of those same actors. Beginning with the 2022 imposition of a UN sanctions regime, myriad UN reports have focused on the role of Haitian oligarchs in financing and providing weapons to armed groups, and on corrupt practices such as customs and tax avoidance, drug trafficking, bribery, and general state capture. Canada, going further than any other nation, has implemented individual sanctions against several high-profile individuals from the private sector.
Read more: https://cepr.net/publications/private-sector-assumes-control-of-haitian-state/