United States Designates Haitian Gangs as Terrorist Organizations

On May 2, 2025, the United States officially designated the Haitian criminal coalitions Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as « foreign terrorist organizations ». This decision marks a significant evolution in American foreign policy, particularly in the Western Hemisphere where criminal activities pose serious problems for the internal security of the United States.

*A Response to an Unprecedented Security Crisis*

The Viv Ansanm organization, formed in September 2023 by a coalition of approximately 27 armed groups, is a gang alliance that controls about 85% of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. This coalition is responsible for numerous violent attacks, including the closure of the main airport, mass prison breaks, and civilian massacres. The other organization, Gran Grif, established in 2016 and operating primarily in central Haiti (Artibonite Department), is involved in mass killings, including that of Pont-Sondé which resulted in over 70 deaths.

Gang violence has displaced over one million people and caused the deaths of more than 5,600 individuals over the past year. In the first quarter of this year, according to updated BINUH data, over 1,600 deaths have already been recorded, while criminal activities continue to escalate. Health infrastructure is paralyzed, and more than half of the Haitian population faces severe food insecurity.

*Implications of the Terrorist Designation*

By classifying these groups as terrorist organizations, the United States can now apply stricter sanctions, freeze financial assets, and prosecute any person or entity providing them with material or financial support, however minimal. This measure is part of a broader strategy to expand the definition of terrorism to include transnational criminal groups, as was previously done with organizations such as MS-13 and Tren Aragua. According to senior U.S. officials, individuals involved in terrorist activities in Haiti and those who finance them could end up in maximum-security prisons in El Salvador.

*A Military Intervention in Prospect?*

The doctrine of American supremacy, reaffirmed after the September 11, 2001 attacks, justifies preventive military actions to protect U.S. strategic interests. With Haiti located in immediate proximity, the presence of terrorist groups in this region is perceived as a direct threat to U.S. interests and internal security, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although the United States has not yet announced military intervention or concrete actions, the designation of gangs as terrorists could serve as a prelude to more direct actions, particularly in coordination with the multinational security mission led by Kenya and the Haitian security forces, which are currently struggling to contain the violence due to limited resources. It should be noted, however, that the United States had informed the UN Security Council during the April briefing that it is unable to financially support MMAS operations in Haiti in the long term, calling for greater international commitment to Haiti.