On September 16, 2025, the Inter-American Dialogue, in partnership with Florida International University (FIU), hosted a public event on the evolving crisis in Haiti. The discussion examined security, governance, and the international community’s role in helping Haiti find a sustainable path forward.
Rebecca Bill Chavez, president and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, opened the session by emphasizing the urgency of addressing Haiti’s collapse of security and governance. She stressed the Dialogue’s commitment to convening frank conversations on the region’s most pressing challenges and highlighted the need for international cooperation to support Haitian-led solutions.
Frank Mora, professor and senior research scientist at the Jack D. Gordon Institute of Public Policy at Florida International University, moderated the conversation, pressing panelists to reflect on the balance between security and governance. He underscored that Haiti’s crisis requires moving beyond short-term fixes and emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue that strengthens institutions rather than bypassing them.
Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow at the Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at the Brookings Institution, warned that progress cannot be achieved without political consensus, noting that militia and self-defense groups often perpetuate violence. She emphasized the urgency of Haitian ownership of the political transition after the current Presidential Transitional Council ends in February 2026 and highlighted the scale of security sector reform needed to confront gang infiltration and restore legitimacy.
Keith Mines, former vice president for Latin America at the United States Institute of Peace, stressed that the situation in Haiti will only become more difficult if action is delayed, noting that, “it will not be easier next year than it is this year.” He laid out ten conditions for success, including visible U.S. leadership, a robust train-and-equip program for Haitian forces, reforms in the judicial and prison systems, and structured channels for civic mobilization to stabilize retaken territory.
Wolf Pamphile, founder and executive director of the Haiti Policy House, argued that gangs are a symptom of deeper political corruption and neglect rather than the root cause of Haiti’s crisis. He underscored the need to build solutions from within by strengthening Haitian institutions, creating reintegration pathways for young people coerced into gangs, and recognizing the agency of Haitian citizens instead of relying solely on external forces.
In conclusion, panelists agreed that Haiti faces a critical turning point. The months leading up to February 2026 will be decisive in determining whether the country can move toward stability or fall deeper into crisis, and U.S. leadership alongside Haitian ownership will be central to shaping the outcome.
WATCH THE EVENT RECORDING HERE:
