Haiti’s Arcahaie commune faced severe disruption as the Viv Ansanm gang coalition brought normal activities to a complete standstill. According to reports from Haiti Libre, the Haitian National Police intervened decisively, neutralizing six gang members during intense armed confrontations.
Local media investigations reveal these criminal elements have waged a systematic campaign against critical infrastructure since 2014. Their targets have included the strategic port facility, educational institutions ranging from schools to universities, and multiple police stations and prison complexes. Government buildings have not been spared, with attacks documented against ministries, bank branches, and the historically significant National Printing Office established in 1804.
The gang’s destructive reach extended to economic assets, including the arson attack on a massive 96,000-square-meter warehouse within the free trade zone. Civilian and religious targets suffered similarly, with assaults on private vehicles, a religious seminary, and Haiti’s inaugural Baptist church—an institution serving the community for over 180 years. More than a dozen pharmacies also fell victim to these attacks.
In April 2024, the gang demonstrated their escalating boldness by burning down the residence of Frantz Elbé, then serving as commander-in-chief of the Haitian National Police. The group’s notoriety reached alarming new heights when they opened fire on a Spirit Airlines aircraft during its landing procedure. This attack forced the plane to make an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic, resulting in injuries to a flight attendant and highlighting the gang’s capacity to threaten aviation security.
