Haiti declares state of emergency

Haiti.- The Haitian government has declared a three-month nationwide state of emergency to confront the worsening security crisis fueled by the growing power of violent armed gangs. The measure, announced Friday, aims to mobilize state resources and strengthen law enforcement capabilities to protect citizens and key sectors of the economy.

As part of this emergency plan, the government also announced the creation of the National Security Agency (ANS), tasked with overseeing intelligence and counterintelligence operations to safeguard national interests. These decisions were made during a special Council of Ministers session led by Transitional Council President Fritz Alphonse Jean and Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

A recent UN report revealed that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 1,600 people were killed and nearly 600 injured in Haiti due to violence by gangs, vigilante groups, and some security forces. The U.S. government responded by designating Haiti’s Viv Ansanm and Grand Grif gangs as terrorist organizations, citing their attacks on civilians, Haitian authorities, and international personnel.