Haiti declares emergency in central region

Haiti declares a three month state of emergency in the central region as gangs surge and aid work is disrupted.

Haiti declares state of emergency in central region as gang violence intensifies

Haiti’s government announced a three month state of emergency in the West Artibonite and Center departments to continue the fight against insecurity and respond to the agricultural and food crisis. The region known as Haiti’s rice basket has been a target for gangs that kill farmers and force them from fields as they burn villages. The United Nations human rights office says that between October 2024 and the end of June 2025 more than 1,000 people were killed, more than 200 injured and 620 kidnapped in Artibonite and Central areas. The violence has displaced more than 239,000 people in the central region. In late April dozens waded across the country’s largest river in a desperate attempt to flee the gangs. On Friday the government named a new interim director general to lead Haiti’s National Police, while Kenyan police officers are helping a UN backed mission to quell the violence. André Jonas Vladimir Paraison replaces Normil Rameau, who faced criticism for his struggle to contain the gangs and for warnings about underfunding. Paraison previously served as head of security at the National Palace and was on duty when former President Jovenel Moïse was killed in July 2021. The changes come as Laurent Saint-Cyr takes over as president of the transitional presidential council, which is tasked with holding elections by February 2026.

The move shows how Haiti leans on international support to stabilize a security crisis that has hollowed out local governance. Three months is a short window to deliver concrete relief, rebuild trust with communities, and prove the police can operate with enough oversight to avoid rights abuses. At the same time the leadership shift signals how fragile the state’s capacity remains, with underfunding and corruption continuing to challenge reform efforts. The broader question is whether the emergency powers can translate into sustainable security and a credible path to elections, without widening the political divide or undermining civilian rights.

Highlights

The coming weeks will test whether security gains reach the communities that need them most