In brief
In a significant escalation, armed gangs in Haiti, known collectively as Viv Ansanm, have been labeled as terrorists by the Trump administration, intensifying the nation's ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has already seen devastating consequences.
The coalition emerged last year with promises to safeguard civilians, but has since orchestrated violent assaults on vital infrastructure and state institutions. The designation enables the U.S. government to impose severe economic sanctions not only on the gangs but potentially on anyone conducting business with them, as experts warn this could halt trade in Haiti, where gang influence permeates access to essential goods and services. Jake Johnston, a senior research associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, emphasizes the potential for aid programs to grind to a halt due to the necessity of negotiating with gangs to enter communities. As the situation in Port-au-Prince becomes increasingly complex, the global community watches closely to understand the implications of these emerging U.S. policies on the already fragile state.
