Blackwater’s Founder Sends Nearly 200 Personnel to Haiti Amid Surge in Gang Violence: What You Need to Know

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Erik Prince’s security firm will soon send nearly 200 personnel to Haiti to address rising gang violence. This deployment, planned for one year, aims to help the government regain control over areas dominated by armed gangs.

The company, Vectus Global, specializes in security and defense. Prince, a notable figure in private military contracting, previously founded Blackwater, which faced controversy and criticism in the past. The deployment was first reported by Reuters.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated dramatically, with gangs controlling significant territory. The U.N. reports that a recent mission has only 991 personnel, far below the 2,500 that experts believe are necessary to restore order. A recent U.N. report highlighted that the mission’s funding is shortfalling, with only 14% of the estimated $800 million needed for the year currently available.

Following the recent appointment of a new police chief, André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, this deployment is expected to support Haiti’s National Police and a U.N.-backed mission struggling to suppress gang activity. Yet, concerns linger about the effectiveness of such measures without cohesive local and international strategies.

Experts warn that deploying private contractors might complicate matters further. Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, stresses that unless authorized, these actions might breach U.S. laws. He emphasizes the need for a unified strategy to avoid exacerbating the crisis.

Diego Da Rin from the International Crisis Group points out a critical need for well-armed interventions but warns that insufficient manpower could escalate conflicts. A powerful gang federation, Viv Ansanm, formed in September 2023, poses a significant threat. The U.S. has labeled it a foreign terrorist organization due to its violent activities.

From April to June this year, the violence led to at least 1,520 deaths and 600 injuries, according to the United Nations. Shockingly, about 60% of these injuries came from security operations against gangs. The violence and unrest have also displaced around 1.3 million people in recent years.

The situation remains dire, and while the arrival of foreign contractors aims to stabilize the environment, the effectiveness of such efforts without a strategic, unified response remains to be seen.

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