The Facts
A UN human rights official on Wednesday said that a specialized international force and immediate weapons embargo are required to help deal with gang violence in Haiti.
Haitian police departments — reportedly understaffed and under-resourced — have struggled to control warring gangs since the July 2021 assassination of Pres. Jovenel Moïse. Reportedly, up to 80% of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is controlled by organized gangs.
The Spin
Narrative A
The fate of the Haitians is at stake as extreme violence continues to spiral out of control in the nation, putting millions at risk. However, the West has refused calls nor shown any interest in organizing an armed intervention, thus indirectly contributing to an impoverished Haiti. It’s shameful that the byproduct of the world’s callous apathy is a country struggling to fend for itself and on course to collapse.
Narrative B
Confronting gangs with an international force will not work if the Haitians fail to establish effective democracy. It’s essential the international community first aids the country in transitioning to political stability, before making Haitian police more equipped to respond to the crisis, stemming the flow of weapons to the country, and sanctioning officials profiting off the violence.
