The United States on Friday formally designated two major Haitian gang coalitions as foreign terrorist organizations, signalling a dramatic policy shift.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Viv Ansanm—a coalition of more than 20 heavily armed gangs—and the Gran Grif gang have also been labelled Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
“The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over,” Rubio declared, calling the gangs a threat to U.S. national security and regional stability.
The U.S. said both groups are responsible for mass killings of civilians, targeting police, and attempting to topple Haiti’s fragile government.
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is said to be 85% under gang control, as the country reels from years of unchecked violence and lawlessness.
Rubio accused the gangs of seeking to establish a “gang-led nation,” replacing the state with violent rule through fear, brutality and impunity.
Despite the recent arrival of an international police support mission led by Kenya, the violence has persisted, deepening the nation’s humanitarian and political crises.
Haiti is currently governed by a transitional council amid efforts to restore order, but gang dominance has made state control nearly impossible.
Friday’s designation freezes assets, blocks travel, and criminalises support for the listed gangs under U.S. law.
The move underscores Washington’s growing alarm over Haiti’s collapse and signals tougher action against those fueling the chaos.
