Escalating casualty figures and sexual violence

Between 1 January and 11 September 2026, gang violence and security clashes in Haiti resulted in at least 5,700 people killed or injured, according to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Presenting the findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Türk reported that armed groups also kidnapped more than 230 people and committed over 1,000 documented rapes against women and girls. Actual numbers remain significantly higher because widespread insecurity prevents many victims from reaching medical facilities or filing reports. The surge in criminal activity traces back to the power vacuum created after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021, which allowed rival coalitions to consolidate control across Port-au-Prince and provinces like Artibonite. In late August 2026, a gang led by Johnson André, known as Izo 2, killed 47 people and kidnapped roughly 50 others in Kenscoff, illustrating the reach of armed factions into previously stable areas.

Türk warned the council that gang tactics are evolving rapidly across regional transport routes.

“Despite some success in containing their activity in parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gangs continue to adapt and expand, reappearing in new areas and constantly rearming.”

International deployment and operational shortfalls

To counter armed factions, the UN Security Council previously authorized the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to bolster security alongside the Haitian national police. While the multilateral mission has a target operational strength of 5,500 personnel, contributing nations have failed to supply the necessary forces. United States Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated that only 1,500 personnel are currently deployed on the ground. Earlier this week, the UN Security Council voted to extend the mission mandate for six months until 31 March 2027 through a resolution sponsored by the United States and Panama, which received 12 affirmative votes while China, Russia, and Pakistan abstained. Türk called for an accelerated mobilization of forces with strict human rights oversight, noting that existing units have struggled to enter gang strongholds.

Authorized target5,500

Currently deployed1,500

Authorized target

5500 personnel

Currently deployed

1500 personnel

Data from the article text

Security operations and child recruitment

The report detailed that more than half of all casualties recorded in 2026 occurred during security operations against criminal organizations. Hundreds of civilians were killed or wounded by stray gunfire and explosive drones deployed in populated sectors. Self-defense vigilante groups contributed to the violence, killing or injuring approximately 280 people during the same reporting period. While summary executions by specialized police units decreased by nearly half compared to 2025, individuals suspected of gang ties still face extrajudicial killings. In addition, criminal factions have intensified the recruitment of minors, with UN data showing that children now comprise between 30% and 50% of gang ranks. Türk noted that child recruitment has nearly tripled in 2026 as minors turn to gangs for basic survival.

“No child should be forced to choose between their lives and the security of their neighbours.”

Political timetable and election doubts

Haiti is scheduled to hold its first presidential and legislative elections in a decade on 13 December 2026, alongside a planned constitutional referendum. The country has not held general elections since 2016, leaving governing institutions severely weakened and prisons overcrowded at three times their intended capacity. However, human rights officials have expressed deep skepticism regarding the feasibility of the December vote. Türk stated that establishing credible electoral conditions remains exceedingly difficult given the current security landscape, the displacement of populations, and the extensive territorial control exercised by heavily armed groups.