Haiti Report, September 23, 2025
A compilation of news about Haiti from the past week.
Proposal of Gang Suppression Force to replace Kenya-led Mission
The United States is proposing a significant shift in the ongoing effort to help Haiti wrestle back territory from criminal armed gangs by rebranding the current Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission into a more aggressive Gang Suppression Force with a new mandate, more police and expanded autonomy from the Haitian police. The revamped Gang Suppression mission would have a cap of 5,500 uniformed personnel and 50 civilians. While troops’ salaries would continue to be paid from voluntary contributions to the United Nations, logistical support will be funded from a newly created U.N. Support Office in Haiti, according to a draft resolution of the U.S. and Panama.
Despite overwhelming support on the United Nations Security Council and among countries in the region for a new, more robust force to take on Haiti’s armed criminal groups, the adoption of a resolution to approve the new measure is not a done deal, the State Department’s deputy secretary of state said Monday. “There are still those who might try to prevent its adoption or slow our response in Haiti’s hour of need,” Christopher Landau said as he also announced new U.S. visa sanctions against two former Haitian lawmakers. “The time for action is now, and the United States asks all our partners to join us in pressing for this critical resolution.” Landau was among several speakers participating at a high level meeting on Haiti at the U.N. The meeting was organized by Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss the East African nation’s leadership of the U.N.-authorized Multinational Security Support mission over the last 15 months.
During his opening remarks, Ruto said Kenya would not leave quickly but pleaded for support and predictability with the new armed international mission. But while he insisted Kenya had “achieved in Haiti,” Ruto was also candid about the mission’s shortcomings, which have included having only half the personnel it was supposed to have and shortages in equipment and financing. “If we don’t provide a proper transition, we’re to lose everything that we have achieved,” Ruto warned.
At an event organized by the U.S. and Kenya on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, Ruto said the 15-month-old force - known as the Multinational Security Support mission - had been operating at only 40% of the expected strength of 2,500 security personnel. The U.N. Security Council mandate for the MSS mission is due to expire on October 2. A Security Council resolution requires at least nine of the 15 votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Britain, China, France or Russia.
"I must commend the United States. They did make available logistics and vehicles. But unfortunately, most of the vehicles were second-hand vehicles, and therefore they broke down a lot, many times. And in fact, it put our personnel in great danger when they broke down in very dangerous places," Ruto said.
Mexico becomes first Latin American country to give to fund for Haiti
Mexico has become the first Latin American country to contribute to a United Nations trust fund supporting the Kenyan-led multinational security mission in Haiti, joining Canada and the United States as the only countries in the Western Hemisphere to make a financial contribution. Mexico announced its contribution to the voluntary fund on Monday as the U.S., Kenya and Haiti led efforts during a high level meeting in New York to get support at the U.N. Security Council to transition the beleaguered Kenya-led mission into a larger “Gang Suppression Force” with a broader mandate. A draft resolution, co-written by the U.S. and Panama, has been running into roadblocks ahead of the expiration of the Kenya mission’s mandate on Oct. 2, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said.
Enrique Ochoa, Mexico’s vice minister for multilateral affairs and human rights, said his nation agrees “on the need to have a mission that is much stronger and that has the necessary financial resources and the necessary equipment in order to face the terrible situation that Haiti is currently experiencing.” He then announced the Mexican government had made a contribution to the trust fund. Ochoa didn’t announce the amount. But a look at the U.N.-controlled Trust Fund for the MSS shows Mexico making a $100,000 contribution earlier this month soon after France gave its third contribution of $581,050. The total amount the fund now has in hand is $113.2 million, with Canada being the single largest contributor after pledging more than $61 million. While the total cash in hand at the U.N. is enough to pay for the stipends of the Kenya mission’s 1,000 personnel until the end of the year, the funds are not enough to support the effort to dismantle the high-powered criminal groups terrorizing Haiti and ensure that the personnel have the necessary equipment, supporters of the mission have said.
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article312216004.html
Mexican Army trains 143 Haitian soldiers
A group of 143 Haitian soldiers on Friday finished military training by the Mexican army as part of a bilateral agreement as Haiti looks to revive its armed forces amid escalating violence in the Caribbean nation, where gangs have taken control of most of its capital. For eight weeks, 15 women and 128 men were part of a basic military training where they practiced personal defense and shooting and learned about human rights. Now they are heading to their country. “Starting today, you return to your nation with military knowledge and physical and spiritual strength to loyally serve your people and your democratically elected authority,” said lieutenant colonel Juan Manuel Campos Rodríguez, director of the army’s training center, at a closing ceremony in a military camp in the state of Mexico, north of Mexico’s capital. https://apnews.com/article/haiti-mexico-army-soldiers-training-gangs-3aecaca63a4b3d6c4fdc9168b3dfd729?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
US Designates two former officials for corruption
The US Department of State is publicly designating Arnel Belizaire, a former member of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, and Antonio Cheramy, a former Haitian Senator, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. This action renders Belizaire, Cheramy, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States. Belizaire and Cheramy abused their positions by interfering with public processes of the Haitian government. These corrupt and destructive acts had serious effects on U.S. national interests by further destabilizing Haiti’s institutions and processes. The designations reaffirm the United States’ commitment to ensuring accountability for individuals who contribute to the destabilization of Haiti. These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47), as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Div. A, P.L. 119-4) (“Section 7031(c)”). Section 7031(c) requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate foreign officials and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary has credible information of involvement in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights.
Drone attack in gang-controlled slum in Haiti kills at least 8 children, injures 6 others
Explosive drones targeting a suspected gang leader killed at least eight children inside a slum in Haiti’s capital and seriously wounded six others, relatives and activists told The Associated Press on Monday, as they blamed police for the attack. The explosions happened Saturday night in Cité Soleil, which is controlled by Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang coalition that the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. One of its leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, best known as Barbecue, vowed to avenge the killings, with a total of at least 13 people dying, according to residents.
“This is my daughter,” said Claudia Bobrun, 30, as she showed the AP a video of her 8-year-old girl lying in a pool of blood. Tears rolled down her face as she replayed the video. Michelis Florville, 60, said the explosion killed two of his grandchildren, ages 3 and 7, and his 32-year-old son. “People were running right and left,” he recalled, noting that he was standing near where the explosion occurred. A new task force created earlier this year has operated outside the oversight of Haiti’s National Police and employed the use of explosive drones. The task force was made up of certain police units and private contractors.
The attack comes as Vectus Global, the security firm of former U.S. Navy Seal Erik Prince, expects to deploy nearly 200 personnel from various countries to Haiti as part of a one-year deal to quell gang violence there. https://apnews.com/article/haiti-drone-attack-cite-soleil-children-killed-339677efb2e5926b182f1934fafd6e5e?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
A Haitian government deployed “Kamikaze” drone is being blamed for the deaths of at least eight children and at least three adults in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood where a gang leader was reportedly celebrating his birthday at the time of the deadly strike. Among the victims was 4-year-old Merika Saint-Fort Charles. Her mother and grandmother told the Miami Herald Merika was playing with other kids at around 8 p.m. in their Simon Pelé neighborhood, when they heard a loud explosion from the sky. “The children were sitting here playing,” Mimose Duclaire, the girl’s grandmother, said. “While they were playing, I heard a ‘boom’ and when I looked I saw that both of her knees were broken and her head was split open.” The child’s name appeared on an online post alongside other reported victims, including a pregnant woman. Duclaire said they rushed her granddaughter, gushing blood, to a hospital, but she died on the way. “We want justice,” Duclaire, 52, said. “We need justice.”
The National Human Rights Defense Network in Port-au-Prince said at least eight children died during the strike. The incident occurred Saturday evening when a Haiti National Police task force launched two kamikaze drones during a gathering of gang members to celebrate the birthday of local gang leader, Albert Steevenson, alias Djouma, in Simon Pelé, west of the Airport Road. A flier circulating online announced the birthday festivities by referring to Djouma as “King Jouma.” This is the second time that the government’s deployment of explosive drones is being blamed for the deaths of civilians. Earlier this month, images circulated on social media showing corpses lying face down on the ground and people being evacuated in a vehicle after a suicide drone was launched. At the time, human rights groups put the death toll at 11. The use of weaponized drones has worried foreign diplomats and human rights observers, who privately have expressed concerns about the collateral damage when a strike misses its target. Haitians have been discussing the shocking incident throughout the day as photos of the dead children circulating on social media sparked outrage.
From criminal governance to community fragmentation: Addressing Haiti's escalating crisis
Haiti is undergoing a profound transformation of its crisis, marked by the consolidation of criminal governance, violent territorial fragmentation, and the erosion of state authority. This policy brief examines developments in the country during the second quarter of 2025. The report finds that the most powerful criminal groups now function like armed militias, controlling vast swathes of the country. In Port-au-Prince, gangs control nearly 90% of the capital and are extending their reach into the Centre and Artibonite regions, pushing towards the Dominican border and Haiti’s northern regions. Their governance model is based on territorial control, extortion, and growing political influence. Extortion alone generates between US$60 million and US$75 million annually from container transport.
At the same time, Haiti faces alarming humanitarian indicators. Between January and May 2025, at least 4,026 people were killed, a 24% increase compared to 2024. By July, more than 1.3 million people –over 11% of the national population, half of them minors– were displaced. Nearly 700,000 children live without secure housing, and more than 1,600 schools closed in the first half of 2025 due to violence, leaving 243,000 children without access to education. Civilian responses have also transformed. Vigilante brigades, initially formed for community protection, now play a central role in Haiti’s security landscape. While indispensable to local defence and often collaborating with the police, they also blur the lines between state and non-state actors. Some brigades pursue territorial and political expansion, raising concerns that they could evolve into criminal groups. Cycles of revenge and intra-communal violence increasingly target civilians, eroding social cohesion.
The state security sector itself has fragmented further. Rivalries, lack of coordination, privatization, and militarization have weakened institutions. While the government has created a task force, recruited a private military company, and expanded militarized responses such as drone strikes, these remain insufficient. The Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission continues to face structural and political obstacles, with weak integration into Haiti’s security framework. Politically, the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) is paralyzed. Despite its mandate to restore security, reform institutions, and prepare elections, it has failed to deliver. With elections unlikely in November 2025 and no plan for the post-mandate period starting in February 2026, a dangerous political vacuum risks deepening. Meanwhile, international engagement remains stalled, with ambitious plans but no consensus or implementation.
This policy brief highlights urgent priorities: reinforcing Haitian-led governance and justice initiatives, restoring coherence among transitional institutions, dismantling the networks sustaining the criminal economy, and preparing for a credible transition beyond February 2026. This report is part of the GI-TOC’s Observatory of Violence and Resilience in Haiti, providing research, analysis, and support to local and international stakeholders.
Armed groups increase attacks outside of Port-au-Prince
In the past few days, armed gunmen in Haiti have killed dozens of farmers in a rural fishing village north of Port-au-Prince, attacked an armored police vehicle, killing the driver and injuring two cops in the hills above the capital, and set fire to a police station in the country’s breadbasket to consolidate their hold on the Lower Artibonite region. The escalating violence come as efforts by the United States to get a more aggressive and lethal force capable of suppressing gangs remain uncertain at the United Nations Security Council, and as Kenyan President William Ruto suggests that his police forces leading the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti could be exiting within the next two weeks when the U.N.-authorized mandate expires on Oct. 2.
While one of the country’s best known gang leaders, Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, has called for some of the more than 1.3 million people who have been displaced to return home to central Port-au-Prince, members of his powerful Viv Ansanm coalition and their allies have been sowing havoc outside the capital in once peaceful communities. At around 1 a.m. Monday, armed gunmen with the Gran Grif gang stormed the rural town of Liancourt and set fire to the local police station after an hours-long firefight with police, Bertide Horace, a community activist in the area, said.
Gran Grif, Kokorat San Ras, Viv Ansanm and the 5-Star gangs are all currently in cities connecting the Lower Artibonite to parts of the Central Plateau, which is east of the capital and abuts the Artibonite, she said. As a result, the commune of Dessalines, named after the country’s founding father, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and the city of St. Marc, are now “sandwiched” between gang strongholds. The assault on the Liancourt police station came after two other high-profile attacks. On Wednesday and Thursday, gunmen with Viv Ansanm, who have been in control of the city Cabaret since March 2024, stormed the small, neighboring fishing village of Labodrie, 20 miles north of Haiti’s capital. Despite attempts by police and a local citizen’s group to push them back, at least 40 people, including children and elderly, were killed by gang members who also set homes ablaze. The reasons for the massacre, according to information gathered by the local National Human Rights Defense Network: the Sept. 7 killing of a local gang leader known as “Vlad” and accusations that residents of Labodrie were acting as informants for police officers in the adjacent town of Arcahaïe.
Next week world leaders will meet in New York for the United Nations General Assembly with a number of possible side events on the deepening crisis in Haiti hosted by the Caribbean Community, as well as groups like Clinton Global Initiative and Chatham House. Ahead of the gathering, Washington has been circulating another version of its resolution to create a new Gang Suppression Force among members of the Security Council. Sources say while negotiations are ongoing, discussions have been heated as China and Russia remain unengaged. Two of the council’s five permanent members, the two nations have the power to veto the resolution. Among the questions yet to be answered is where the 5,500 personnel for the new force will come from, and who is going to pay.
While countries in the region like Panama, El Salvador and Colombia have expressed an interest in fielding the new force, they also want someone else to pay for it, which Washington so far has balked at, after publicly saying it can’t continue shouldering the financial burden of Haiti’s crisis. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also recently told the Globe and Mail that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked Canada to play a role in stabilizing Haiti during their one-on-one meeting in August. The country, approached by the Biden administration, turned down deploying troops. “If we had a hard time staffing 2,500 I’m not entirely sure where they’re going to come from,” Keith Mines, who most recently served as vice president for Latin America at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said, referring to the Kenyan mission’s force numbers that were never achieved. “I don’t see anyone in the hemisphere that’s ready to step up.”
Residents in rural Haiti town staying away amid calls to return after gang attack
Days after a criminal gang stormed this rural village in Haiti’s northwest, setting fire to the local police substation and looting homes, residents remain gripped by fear amid concerns that the violence isn’t over. On Saturday, normally a busy day for the area’s 30,000-residents, streets remained deserted with torched vehicles, while the local market was devoid of the usual bustling traffic. Sellers, like customers, had yet to return after most residents had fled the area, crossing on foot through the mountains to neighboring Port-de-Paix, and through a swollen river to escape the gangs’ deadly wrath. “A lot of people are scared, a lot of people left Bassin-Bleu for Port-de-Paix,” Mayor Tony Manigat told the Miami Herald. “A lot of people would like to return, but they scared because people are always saying the gunmen are not that far away, and at any moment they can seize on them here.” Yet, even as he acknowledged the fear gripping residents, he and local government prosecutor vowed that law and order will return to the community. “I guarantee you, security will return,” Prosecutor Jeir Pierre who came from Port-de-Paix said. As he spoke, Pierre stood armed with a gun strapped to his chest. Down the road, a lone police vehicle stood outside the burned ruins of the police substation station while another vehicle stood watch in front of the morgue, where the charred corpse of a schoolteacher killed during the attack, was being held.
Located on the border of the Artibonite and Northwest regions of Haiti, Bassin-Bleu became the latest rural community to come under gang attack Thursday when more than 50 gunmen targeted residents in broad daylight. Resident say the siege was carried out by members of the violent Kokorat San Ras gang based in the nearby locality of Ti Bwadòm in Gros-Morne in the Artibonite. After years of expanding their control over towns in the Lower Artibonite region, the armed group has now set its sights on conquering the Northwest, where Bassin Bleu is a gateway, and the port city of Port-de-Paix is the capital.
Gang attacks in Kapenyen near Estere
The town of Kapenyen, located near the commune of Estère (Artibonite), suffered a new armed attack during the night of Saturday, September 20 to Sunday, September 21, 2025. The "Kokorat san ras" gang set fire to several houses and slaughtered various animals, plunging the residents into fear and desolation. No loss of life was reported this time. For several months, Kapenyen has been the regular target of attacks by the "Kokorat san ras" gang. Known for its agricultural production and the tranquility of its residents, the area is now rife with attacks and panic. Faced with this threat, a self-defense group has formed to protect the farmland and the population. On several occasions, these armed residents have put up fierce resistance, but without significant police support, their fight remains limited and almost isolated.
On Saturday evening, as a light rain fell in the region, the attackers fired bursts of gunfire to disperse the population before setting fire to homes. In a video circulating on social media, the bandits displayed an impressive arsenal of weapons of war, openly defying local self-defense forces and police authorities. On July 19, the gang had already attacked the town, leaving at least seven dead and several injured. This clash fueled rumors about the death of their leader, Meyer, who was seriously injured by the local resistance. Since then, the criminal group has reportedly been led by his brother, Bendji, which suggests Meyer's disappearance, thus further rivalry between the gang members and the local residents. In alliance with Savien's gang, "Kokorat san ras" is one of the most feared criminal organizations in the department. Despite recent deployments of equipment and specialized units, the reality on the ground remains unchanged: attacks are increasing, police chiefs come and go, and residents continue to suffer the terror of criminals.
More than 4,700 People Displaced in Cabaret
The information was communicated by Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, during a press briefing held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, based on the latest figures provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than two-thirds of the displaced people have found refuge in the neighboring commune of Arcahaie. The majority are staying with host families, while 23% have been relocated to four schools converted into temporary accommodation sites. The IOM had previously reported that approximately 3,000 people fled Cabaret between September 11 and 13, 2025. These attacks come in a context of rapid deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti. António Guterres strongly condemned the deaths of at least 40 people - including women, children and the elderly - in an attack in Labodri, between Arcahaie and Cabaret. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32240
‘I’m furious, and I’m ashamed:’ UN humanitarian chief on crisis in Haiti
Since being named the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator in October, Fletcher has been visiting the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises — Sudan, Chad, Syria, Gaza and Ukraine among others — to get a firsthand look at the human cost of the conflicts as they drive mass displacement, starvation and alarming levels of sexual violence. In Haiti, a country gripped by escalating gang violence that has pushed the Caribbean nation into one of the world’s worst places for hunger and among top five countries when it comes to grave violations against children, he’s also trying to understand the world’s indifference. “I’m furious, and I’m ashamed on behalf of the world that we cannot find it within ourselves to be more compassionate, to be more kind, to recognize what people here are going through,” he said. “I cannot believe we are struggling to find the funds to support these families as they try to rebuild their lives. We cannot imagine what they’ve been through.”
Fletcher traveled to Haiti like everyone else: From Miami into northern Cap-Haïtien, via the only airline directly connecting the country to the United States since gang gunfire hit three U.S. commercial flights last November, triggering an ongoing Federal Aviation Administration ban on flights to the country. Before boarding a bullet-proof World Food Program helicopter for Port-au-Prince, he greeted staff and did a quick donor request promo for the humanitarian air service, which routinely faces shutdown because of lack of money. The funding cuts amid Haiti’s escalating surge in gang violence added urgency to his visit. As he moved about in the displacement camp, Fletcher was visibly moved. Inside dimly lit rooms, mothers spoke about their husbands being gunned down, and of having to live apart from their children because of assaults and rapes inside the camps. Fathers spoke of feeling abandoned by the government and the difficulties of getting help.
The $908 million appeal, even if fully funded, will still only provide assistance for 3.9 million Haitians. But without it, millions more are at risk for death, sickness and migration, Fletcher said. “We’re not asking people to give up the hospital in their city or the school around the corner,” he said. “We’re asking their governments to spend 1% of what they spend on arms, weapons, on humanitarian work.... It’s so small, the difference.” The Haitian government has cleared out some encampments and is trying to relocate more people, especially those housed on the grounds of schools. But there is limited housing, because gangs occupy 90% of the capital. “People are just asking for oxygen, for dignity, and they’re asking to be heard,” the humanitarian chief said. “When people talk to me, they are not holding their hand out asking for help. They are asking for enough support to get their lives going again. “They want to work, educate their kids,” he added. “No one chooses to live in these conditions, and they are desperate to get out.”
Food insecurity: 1 million children in "critical situation"
The deterioration of the security situation has caused the displacement of 1.3 million people, the exacerbation of food insecurity, affecting 5.7 million Haitians including 1 million children in a "critical situation" against a backdrop of increasing inflation, or 28.4% in June 2025, compared to 25.2% in March 2025, we can read in the monetary policy note for the third quarter (April-June) of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), consulted by Le Nouvelliste, Monday, September 22, 2025. "The deteriorating security situation, particularly in the departments of Artibonite, Centre, and the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, has caused continued internal displacement, disrupting commercial activities and worsening the population's living conditions. According to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) published on June 25, 2025, the number of internally displaced persons has reached 1.3 million. These population movements, combined with disruptions to supply chains, have accentuated the precariousness of Haitian household livelihoods and exacerbated the food crisis. Thus, the analysis of the Food Insecurity Index for the period from March to June 2025 revealed that approximately 5.7 million Haitians, or 51% of the population analyzed, are acutely food insecure, including one million children in a critical situation," according to this monetary policy note.
FAA extends ban on U.S. commercial aircraft landing in Port-au-Prince
The Federal Aviation Administration is once more extending its ban on U.S. commercial carriers landing in Haiti’s capital. The current ban, which was set to expire on Monday, Sept. 8, has now been extended to March 7, 2026, an FAA spokesperson said. While U.S. carriers and those operated by U.S. licensed pilots can fly over Port-au-Prince, they are prohibited from landing there or operating below 10,000 feet in its air space. In providing background on its six-month extension, the FAA used the State Department’s recent designation of the country’s most powerful gang coalition, Viv Ansanm, as a global and Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The agency also suggested that despite the presence of an armed international force led by Kenya, working alongside the Haiti National Police, armed gangs continue to be a threat in the concerned areas. The agency noted that within the last six months, Haitian gangs have “expanded their area of operations to control nearly 90 percent of Port-au-Prince and the immediately surrounding strategic routes and border areas.” The gangs also continue to have access to small arms and unmanned aircraft systems — drones — capable of reaching low-altitude phases of flight, the FAA said. This November will mark a year since the ban on U.S. commercial and cargo flights was first imposed. U.S. authorities decided to issue the ban after three U.S. commercial airlines flying over Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport reported being hit by gang gunfire. Despite the ongoing FAA ban, the Pentagon continues to fly flights into Port-au-Prince to service the Kenya led Multinational Security Support mission.
Jean Evens Charles Reappointed to Lead the National Port Authority (APN)
Jean Evens Charles was installed as the new Director General of the institution on Monday, September 22, 2025. He was placed in his new role by Minister Alfred Fils Metellus during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) offices on Charles Sumner Avenue. Mr. Charles had previously served as Director General of the APN for more than eight years. He had launched reconstruction work on one of the docks destroyed during the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. “As regulator and manager of the public port sector, the APN makes port security its top priority. Port operations, from the reception of ships to the delivery of cargo, must be carried out safely. Intermodality must be practiced freely,” declared Jean Evens Charles, calling for the cooperation of all actors in the port sector in order to restore a safe, welcoming, and stable environment where healthy and fair competition can thrive.
“Mr. Charles will inherit an institution operating in a heavily degraded environment. Unconventional methods have been implemented to ensure access for clients and the movement of containers as well as SMEs that provide essential services. Mr. Charles will need to take measures to improve the situation,” said Alfred Fils Metellus, Minister of Economy and Finance. The head of the MEF urged the new Director General to pay attention to the new port facilities in the North and South, which will play a major role in decentralizing activities away from the capital in the areas of safety and security of the installations. “Care must be taken to ensure that the new supply points and new landing points do not further weaken our country and do not become hubs for illicit practices of all kinds,” the minister advocated. Finalizing the APN’s 2025–2026 budget is the first task awaiting the new head of the APN. “This budget must be approved by the board of directors before the start of the new fiscal year. Instructions have been given to all autonomous institutions under the supervision of the MEF to ensure that their budgets are ready for execution as of October 1, 2025,” he concluded. https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/260150/jean-evens-charles-reappointed-to-lead-the-national-port-authority-apn
Protests in Cap-Haitien in light of anticipated change of Port Authority in the North
Dozens of demonstrators set tires on fire Thursday outside the National Port Authority (APN) in Cap-Haïtien, protesting rumors that northern departmental director Ronald Célicourt would be replaced. Police responded to the scene as gunshots rang out, though no deaths or major injuries were reported. Approximately 50 protesters, including APN employees and political activists, gathered under light rainfall on Sept. 18. Dozens of demonstrators again protested in front of APN on Sept. 19. The government has not confirmed whether Célicourt will be replaced. Protesters claimed that former APN General Director Jocelyn Villier had requested Célicourt’s transfer to Port-au-Prince shortly before Villier was dismissed amid corruption allegations. Villier has not commented publicly. On the same day as the protest, the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) announced new appointments at several state institutions, including Evens Charles as APN’s new general director, Elysée Colagène at the National Education Fund (FNE), and Gérald Remplais at the General Administration of Customs. While the show of support for Célicourt surprised many, he has faced heavy criticism since taking the northern APN post in June 2024. Residents have accused him of embezzlement and nepotism for allegedly hiring multiple relatives at the port, though no evidence has been presented. Célicourt has been building a home in Richardville, a hilly neighborhood in Cap-Haïtien, at an extremely fast pace, raising questions about his source of income. Residents also accuse Célicourt of paying demonstrators to protest in his favor. Many of the demonstrators are men from low-income neighborhoods who typically take part in protests. Just five days before the protest, the Popular Association of the North, an activist group, sent a letter to Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) accusing Célicourt of corruption. “Arrest Ronald Célicourt,” one activist shouted during the demonstration.
132 on US deportation flight to Cap-Haitien, including children
The United States deported minors to Haiti for the first time during President Donald Trump’s second term, sending six children between the ages of four and 11 to Cap-Haïtien on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
They were part of 132 deportees aboard the largest deportation flight yet from the U.S. to Haiti since Trump returned to office in January, according to Frandy Étienne, one of the regional managers of Haiti’s National Office of Migration (ONM). “It’s not really logical to deport children,” Étienne said. “They will be traumatized. We will need psychologists to help those children.” Étienne said the children arrived with their parents, and none of the passengers had been deported for serious crimes. He added, however, that Haitian authorities had not been given details about the specific reasons for their removal. He was unable to say whether the children were born in the U.S. or elsewhere, and how long the deported adults had lived in the country. This marks the fourth deportation flight to Haiti since Trump began his second term in January. Each flight has carried more passengers than the last: 21 in February, 46 in March, 96 in June and now 132. “Cap-Haïtien is already saturated. Many deportees try to return to their hometowns, but gang violence makes travel [to other areas] nearly impossible. These people often face extreme difficulties.”
ONM typically provides financial assistance to deportees, giving minors and adults the same amount to help with resettlement. Étienne did not specify how much was given to the newcomers on Wednesday.
After landing at Cap-Haïtien’s Hugo Chávez International Airport, deportees were taken to the North Departmental police headquarters for routine checks and paperwork. And they were then released into the capital city of the Northern Department. The deportation of children has raised new legal and human rights questions. Under U.S. law, American-born children are automatically U.S. citizens. Although it’s not clear as to where these children were born, advocates fear some of the minors deported to Haiti could be U.S.-born citizens improperly expelled alongside their parents.
Despite rumors, no election date is set
No date has yet been set for holding elections in Haiti, contrary to rumors circulating on social media, the online agency AlterPresse learned from a source within the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
With less than five months to go until the end of the mandate entrusted to the Presidential Transitional Council (PTC), no decision has yet been taken, while the transitional authorities are due to hand over power to an elected president on 7 February 2026. The electoral issue is among the items on the agenda of discussions between the President of the CPT, Laurent Saint-Cyr, and Haiti's partners, during his stay this week in New York, to participate in the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Saint-Cyr is expected to clarify the authorities' intentions regarding the organization of the next elections and possible constitutional reform. Steps are underway for a constitutional referendum, which has been widely rejected by the population. It is still unclear whether this idea will be maintained or whether the elections will be held under the amended 1987 Constitution. A minimum of eight months is considered necessary to implement an electoral calendar, based on past experience. "The organization of the elections is the exclusive responsibility of the Provisional Electoral Council. The executive has no intention of interfering in its prerogatives. Its mission is to guarantee a favorable security and institutional environment," Laurent Saint-Cyr reiterated during a visit to the CEP on August 19, 2025. https://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article32250
Official tour in Europe by Cap-Haitien Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor
As part of an official tour of Europe, Patrick Almonor, Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haïtien, met with Ms. Muriel Richard, First Deputy Mayor of Suresnes (a western suburb of Paris), responsible for Partnerships and External Cooperation. The objective of the meeting was to discuss business diplomacy and the entrepreneurial role of municipalities; to present the project to create the Business Facilitation Office (BFA) / Destination Cap-Haïtien; and to revitalize the twinning relationship between Cap-Haitien and Suresnes. During this meeting, it was agreed to establish a Commission to Relaunch Cap-Haitien–Suresnes Cooperation, composed of a representative from each of the two cities.
The parties reiterated their commitment to establishing a modern, pragmatic, and results-oriented cooperation, serving the people of Cap-Haitien and respecting mutual commitments. This relaunch is fully in line with the "Destination Cap-Haitien" vision and the economic openness driven by business diplomacy. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-45778-icihaiti-cap-haitien-official-tour-in-europe-by-deputy-mayor-patrick-almonor.html
Cap-Haitien Launches Clean Up Campaign
On Saturday, September 20, as part of World Cleanup Day, the Cap-Haitien Municipal Commission salutes and congratulates all the groups, organizations, and young people who have already mobilized to participate in the cleanup campaign. This week, the municipal administration is planning several other activities to strengthen collective engagement. These include :
- Two days of workshops, on September 24 and 25, 2025, on the theme “Pawòl Fatra” which will bring together all social classes and all the city's institutions.
- Three major days of mobilization, starting Friday, September 26, with all the city's organized groups and institutions.
The city invites everyone who wishes to join, in one way or another, in this cleanup campaign to make the municipality cleaner and more beautiful. https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-45827-icihaiti-cap-haitien-for-a-cleaner-and-more-beautiful-municipality.html
Upcoming Events
Defending Human Rights in Haiti: Challenges and Perspectives from Haitian Civil Society
Date & Time: Sep 25, 2025 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Amnesty International’s Annual Report highlights the significant challenges faced by the population in Haiti amid a multidimensional crisis involving human rights, economic instability, and humanitarian issues. In this context, the Regional Office is organizing a virtual panel to address key areas of concern through a dialogue with Haitian activists.
Speakers: Rosy Auguste, RNDDH; Pascale Solages, Neges Mawon; Nadine Tina, REFKAD with Moderator Rym Khadraoui, Amnesty International
Healing in the Lakou: Gerizon nan Lakou a
Date & Time: September 30, 5pm ET – Zoom
This virtual conversation bridges KOSANBA’s recent conference theme on “Africana Religious Activism, Resistance and Rejuvenation” and HSA’s forthcoming conference theme on “Reparasyon ak Restitisyon.” Together, we center the lakou as a seedbed and garden for Haitian epistemologies of collectivity, liberation, healing, and repair.
Speakers: Dr. Cécile Accilien, Iyalochá & Madre Nkisi Dr. Yanique Hume, and Manbo Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels
Register here: https://www.haitianstudies.org/2025/09/healing-in-the-lakou/