Haiti is facing a deteriorating crisis due to escalating gang violence, a situation that has led the United Nations to express significant concern. Gang activities across the country have created alarming levels of instability. The Trump administration has responded to the crisis by officially designating two of Haiti’s most powerful gang networks, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs). This move aims to disrupt gang operations and support efforts to restore order inthe Caribbean nation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, stating that the era of impunity for those who back violence in Haiti has come to an end. He highlighted how these gangs have inflicted harm on the locals, security forces, and multinational security support mission personnel, with ambitions to establish a gang-controlled state that thrives on illicit trafficking and criminal activities.
The designations carry severe legal consequences, including the potential for criminal charges, loss of immigration benefits, or deportation from the US for individuals or entities providing material support to the gangs. Viv Ansanm was formed in September 2023, as an alliance between two main gang factions, G-9 and G-Pép, responsible for coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure, including prisons, government buildings, and the Port-au-Prince international airport. These attacks contributed to the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Gran Grif, operating primarily in the Artibonite region, a crucial agricultural area, has been linked to a significant portion of civilian deaths in the region since 2022 and was implicated in a February 2025 attack that killed a Kenyan officer with the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a former police officer turned gang leader, led the Viv Ansanm alliance, uniting rival gangs against the government, blaming political elites for the lawlessness. Despite acknowledging the violence, Chérizier claimed that the government facilitated the conditions that led to it.
Rubio emphasized that these designations are crucial in the fight against these violent groups and serve as a deterrent to those supporting their activities. The State Department was also supportive of the efforts by the Haitian National Police and international partners in combating the gangs and called on Haitian political leaders to prioritize the restoration of peace and democracy through free and fair elections.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-admin-takes-hardline-haitian-violence-labels-gangs-foreign-terrorist-organizations
