Haiti’s Artibonite region, historically known as the nation’s agricultural core, faces an unprecedented security crisis as armed gangs now control over 50% of police territories according to emergency reports. The SPNH-17 Police Union has issued an urgent appeal to national authorities after receiving multiple distress calls from officers overwhelmed by escalating gang violence.
The deteriorating situation has paralyzed daily life across the region, with residents unable to work, travel, or conduct basic activities due to widespread terror. Despite the presence of Kenyan peacekeeping forces stationed at Pont Sondé, criminal elements continue their brutal campaign, exemplified by the November 29th atrocities where multiple civilians were burned and killed.
SPNH-17’s emergency petition targets the Presidential Transitional Council, Police Superior Council, Acting Director General Vladimir Paraison, and departmental leadership, demanding immediate large-scale military intervention. The proposed operation requires comprehensive tactical deployment including:
• Combat helicopters for targeted strikes on gang strongholds
• Naval patrols to secure coastal waters from Montrouis to L’Estère
• Special forces units to liberate blockaded communities including Gonaïves, Gros Morne, and Montrouis
The police union emphasizes that current security measures have proven tragically inadequate against well-armed criminal networks. Their statement underscores the national strategic importance of Artibonite, describing it as both “the breadbasket of the country” and “the heart of Haiti” whose agricultural output sustains the entire nation.
This crisis represents a critical juncture in Haiti’s ongoing security challenges, with implications for both national food security and regional stability in the Caribbean basin.