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The United States has officially classified some Haitian gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Haiti has been rocked by a devastating gang war that has effectively paralyzed the country’s government and security infrastructure. Armed gangs have seized control of critical spots, including over 85% of Port-au-Prince, major highways, ports, and fuel depots. Efforts to counter this takeover include an under-resourced Kenyan-led UN peacekeeping mission and frozen US support under the Trump administration, resulting in limited impact on the ground. As a result, more than 1 million people have been displaced, health systems have collapsed, and nearly half the population now faces severe food insecurity, according to the United Nations.
What’s going on now: In a less publicized announcement, the US government under the Trump administration designated two of Haiti’s most powerful criminal organizations—Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif—as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specifically Designated Global Terrorists. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the groups pose a direct threat to US national security, given their control over strategic infrastructure, coordination of violent attacks, and links to illicit cross-border arms trafficking, particularly from the US to Haiti via Florida.
Viv Ansanm, which translates to “Living Together” in Haitian Creole, is a coalition formed in 2023 that now controls the majority of Port-au-Prince. Despite initial claims to protect civilians, the group has launched coordinated attacks on government institutions, prisons, and the main airport, paralyzing state functions and forcing the resignation of Haiti’s acting prime minister. Gran Grif operates primarily in the rural Artibonite region—Haiti’s agricultural heartland—and has been tied to some of the most gruesome violence in recent years, including a massacre of at least 115 people in Pont-Sonde. The US State Department has stated Gran Grif is responsible for 80% of the deaths in its region and that both gangs are obstructing humanitarian access and food supply chains.
While designating the gangs as terrorist organizations may seem symbolic to some, the implications are far-reaching and allow the US government to use more tools at its disposal. This can include imposing sanctions, prosecuting individuals for material support, freezing assets, and restricting travel for anyone linked to these groups, even indirectly. It also enables greater international cooperation on counterterrorism efforts, potentially paving the way for intelligence sharing or even targeted military operations.
