Live Now
Linkedin-in Youtube Facebook-f

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

August 29, 2025

What Is the State of Haiti’s Security & Political Crises?

Gangs have gained “near total control” of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince (pictured), United Nations officials said last month. // File Photo: AlbertoHektor via Adobe Stock.

Q

  • The U.S. Justice Department on Aug. 12 unveiled criminal charges against Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the alleged leader and spokesperson of Haiti’s dominant Viv Ansamn gang alliance, alleging he conspired to evade U.S. sanctions. The week prior, businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr took office as the head of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, which is seeking to restore order and prepare Haiti for elections. What’s the state of Haiti’s security and political crises? To what extent might the recently announced three-month state of emergency in the country’s West, Central and Artibonite departments aid Haitian security forces’ fight against gangs? What’s the significance of Chérizier’s indictment, and what does the move suggest about the direction of U.S. policy toward Haiti?

A

Evallière Beauplan, former senator of the Republic of Haiti and president of the MOLHA party and SOLID coalition of parties: “The situation is grim: Since the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) came to power, the plight of the Haitian people has continued to worsen. Internal dissensions and partisan interests are seriously undermining the Council’s effectiveness, to the detriment of the population’s real needs. Meanwhile, gangs continue to sow terror under the helpless, if not complicit, gaze of the leaders. Women and girls remain victims of rape, displaced people sleep in the open and hunger ravages every home. Children no longer have schools to go to, and health centers, ambulances and police stations have been burned. More recently, the site housing the antennas and equipment of the National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC), Haiti’s aviation regulator…”

Top News

U.S., Panama Propose ‘Gang-Suppression Force’ for Haiti
The United States and Panama on Thursday proposed a force with as many as 5,500 uniformed officers to seize territory back from the gangs that control much of Haiti.
Brazil Conducts Raids in Money Laundering Probe
Brazilian federal authorities conducted a series of raids Thursday as part of an investigation into organized crime involving the fuel and financial services sectors.
Argentina’s Milei Defends Sister Amid Bribery Allegations
Argentine President Javier Milei on Thursday called bribery allegations against his sister Karina, who serves as his chief of staff, a “lie.”

Complete editions of the Latin America Advisor are delivered on a biweekly basis to members of the Dialogue’s Corporate Program and other subscribers. Sign up below for a free complimentary preview subscription.

Subscribe

ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
Energy Advisor
Financial Services Advisor

Subscribers

the-dialogue-subscribers7
the-dialogue-subscribers6
the-dialogue-subscribers5
the-dialogue-subscribers4
the-dialogue-subscribers3
the-dialogue-subscribers2
the-dialogue-subscribers1

Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
202.463.2920
gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Jack Quinn
Reporter

jquinn@thedialogue.org

Lori Rampani
Reporter

lrampani@thedialogue.org

Subscribe

board of advisors

Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

Subscribe To
Latin America Advisors

* indicates required field

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The Inter-American Dialogue MEXICO Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

The Inter-American Dialogue BRAZIL Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

The Inter-American Dialogue Education Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

Border Map

The Verification Border