The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to stabilizing Haiti by backing the creation of an international force aimed at combating armed gangs that continue to terrorize the country. Henry Wooster, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Haiti, emphasized the urgent need for coordinated international action.

“Stabilizing Haiti is a top priority for the United States. The international community must stand with the Haitian government to confront gangs that threaten, extort, and destroy communities. Current efforts are simply not enough,” Wooster stated.

The planned force will consist of over 5,000 personnel, five times the number currently deployed on the ground. With a United Nations Security Council mandate under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the unit will have the authority to proactively pursue criminal groups and carry out operations across affected areas.

Many neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince and western Haiti remain under gang control, resulting in daily violence, displacement, and extortion. Haitian authorities, facing limited resources, are relying on this international support to regain control and restore safety for local populations.

Success will depend on close collaboration with local forces and a comprehensive approach that includes community rehabilitation and support. The mission aims not only to dismantle gangs but also to provide long-term security, signaling a concrete commitment by the international community to help Haiti achieve stability and protect its citizens.

In Labodrie, a village in the commune of Cabaret, residents were struck by an attack of staggering brutality. According to local reports, the gang known as Viv Ansanm launched a deadly assault that left between 40 and 50 people dead, including women and children.

The massacre was reportedly carried out as an act of revenge following the death of a gang leader known as “Vladimir.” In retaliation, his allies turned their weapons against defenseless villagers, burning homes and wiping out entire families in a wave of terror. Witnesses described scenes of panic and despair as the community was engulfed in flames and gunfire.

This latest bloodshed highlights the vicious cycle of reprisals fueling Haiti’s escalating insecurity. Confronted with such horror, citizens are demanding concrete action from the authorities, who have so far failed to rein in the growing power of armed gangs across the country.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the massacre in Labodrie, where armed gangs brutally killed scores of civilians.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mr. Guterres called on the Haitian authorities to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible, denouncing the killings as “heinous and unacceptable.”

The UN chief also stressed the urgent need for greater international support for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) assisting the Haitian National Police. Without robust and sustained assistance, he warned, restoring security and protecting communities from gang violence will remain out of reach.

Reaffirming the solidarity of the United Nations with the Haitian people, Guterres urged the international community to scale up financial and logistical commitments to ensure that the mission can fully carry out its mandate.

The massacre once again underscores the depth of Haiti’s security crisis, as civilians remain at the mercy of gangs despite repeated pledges of action by national authorities and foreign partners.

According to a report by CNN on Monday, the U.S. State Department is considering imposing a $15,000 bond on applicants for tourist and business visas (B1/B2) from certain countries. CNN says the official document could be released as early as Tuesday, with the measure set to take effect 15 days after publication.

So far, no official list of the affected countries has been disclosed. However, CNN notes that Washington has already imposed restrictions on several nations, including Haiti, whose citizens are currently ineligible for B1/B2 visas.

The measure, presented as a way to deter visa overstays, is already drawing criticism from observers who see it as yet another barrier to international mobility and a further tightening of U.S. entry requirements.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted on Monday, July 14, to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until January 31, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to supporting peace, stability, and the rule of law in the crisis-ridden Caribbean nation.

Established in 2019, BINUH was designed to assist the Haitian government in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting human rights, reforming the justice system, and preparing for credible elections.

It replaced the previous UN peacekeeping and justice missions with a more focused, advisory structure.

A new United Nations report paints a grim picture of the deteriorating security situation in Haiti. Between October 2024 and June 2025, nearly 5,000 people have been killed, the majority in and around Port-au-Prince. The violence is largely attributed to heavily armed gangs fighting for control over key neighborhoods, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire.

What alarms the UN most is the rapid expansion of this violence beyond the capital. Once relatively calm regions such as Artibonite, the Central Plateau, and parts of the South are now experiencing attacks, kidnappings, and roadblocks set up by criminal groups. This spread reflects the weakening of state authority and the growing reach of gang networks into rural and semi-urban communities.

The humanitarian consequences are severe. Health facilities are closing due to insecurity, aid convoys are being hijacked, and medical personnel are fleeing volatile areas. As a result, thousands of Haitians are left without access to basic healthcare, food, or protection, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The UN is calling for urgent international action. It urges both the Haitian authorities and the global community to prioritize restoring security, protecting civilians, and ensuring safe humanitarian access. Without a coordinated and decisive response, Haiti risks sliding even further into chaos and lawlessness.

The Republic of Haiti inches closer to total collapse with each passing day. Armed gangs now assert near-total control over the capital, while the Haitian state appears powerless—reduced to a mere bystander. The United Nations has described the situation as “alarming and unprecedented,” warning of a deepening humanitarian disaster affecting millions.

Recent assessments indicate that criminal groups now control nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince, including major roads, ports, national highways, and entire districts across the metropolitan area. Pétion-Ville—once considered a safe haven—is no longer exempt. Violence has spread unchecked, turning the capital into a war zone in all but name.

The consequences are devastating:

• Over 1.3 million internally displaced people, crowded into makeshift shelters with little access to basic services.
• Schools are shut down, hospitals unreachable, businesses paralyzed.
• Widespread human rights abuses, including killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.

“This is no longer a crisis. It’s a silent war against the civilian population,” says a senior staff member of an international NGO operating in Tabarre.

The Biden administration has officially announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians living in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on June 27, 2025, that the program will expire on September 2, 2025, affecting tens of thousands of Haitians who have relied on TPS for legal protection and work authorization.

For many, the decision is devastating. Haitian TPS holders have lived in the U.S. for years—some for more than a decade—building families, working legally, and contributing to American communities. The looming loss of status means that, come September, they could be at risk of deportation to a country grappling with political instability, widespread violence, and economic collapse.

Immigrant rights organizations and elected officials are calling the move reckless and inhumane. Legal challenges are already underway, with advocates arguing that Haiti remains unsafe for return. The country is currently facing unprecedented levels of gang violence, displacement, and governmental paralysis, conditions that critics say directly contradict DHS claims that the situation has “sufficiently improved.”

With less than three months before the protection ends, Haitian TPS holders are scrambling to find other immigration pathways, including asylum, marriage-based residency, or other legal relief. As families brace for difficult decisions, many are pleading with U.S. lawmakers to reconsider or intervene. For now, their fate hangs in the balance of court rulings and political will.

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Antoine Michon, the French Ambassador to Haiti, made an unexpected visit to Kenscoff, a commune struggling with escalating insecurity in recent months. The visit caught residents off guard as several areas in Kenscoff remain under the control of armed gangs, making the security situation fragile.

Despite these challenges, the ambassador met with local officials and community leaders to discuss development projects focused on roads, education, and healthcare. This visit demonstrates France’s commitment to supporting local initiatives, even in areas severely impacted by violence.

For the residents, the visit brought both hope and concern. Many see it as a sign of potential improvement in their daily lives, while others fear that ongoing insecurity will hinder the effectiveness of any external aid. The presence of armed groups continues to disrupt basic services and discourage investment.

This visit reflects a diplomatic effort to engage with communities facing hardship despite difficult circumstances. The success of such initiatives will largely depend on the Haitian authorities’ ability to restore peace and security in Kenscoff.

More than three years after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse inside his private residence in Pèlerin 5, the investigation appears to be entering a new phase. The Court of Appeal in Port-au-Prince has issued formal summonses to several high-profile former officials, including Martine Moïse, the late president’s widow; Claude Joseph, former Prime Minister; and Léon Charles, former Director General of the Haitian National Police.

These individuals are expected to appear before the court as part of hearings focused on their possible roles—whether direct or indirect—in the events of July 7, 2021. The move comes amid a long-stalled judicial process, plagued by a revolving door of investigative judges, threats against magistrates, political interference, and persistent legal irregularities.

In some quarters, the court’s decision is being hailed as a rare sign of life from Haiti’s embattled judiciary, which has often been criticized for its paralysis. Civil society groups have welcomed the development as a “courageous step” toward uncovering the truth, while urging that the renewed momentum not be reduced to mere political theater.

However, the timing of these summonses has raised eyebrows. Haiti remains mired in a deep political transition, with widespread distrust in public institutions. Critics argue that the sudden revival of the Moïse case could be a strategic distraction—an attempt by political actors to shift attention away from ongoing crises, including rampant insecurity, failed reforms, and growing rifts within the transitional Presidential Council.

As the public watches closely, the coming days will reveal whether this renewed judicial effort marks a genuine pursuit of justice—or yet another episode in a saga marked by opacity and manipulation.