American Business Officer in Haiti, Henry Wooster•©️photo : US embassy
Washington, February 10, 2026.- At a hearing in the United States Senate this Tuesday, February 10, the US official in Haiti, Henry Wooster revealed figures deemed particularly worrying about the power of armed gangs in Haiti. According to these data, approximately 3,000 heavily armed men now control strategic portions of the territory, defeating the Haitian state and aggravating the security, political and humanitarian crisis.
These revelations made before the US Senate confirm the extent of the deterioration of the security situation in Haiti. According to information provided by the Chargé d'affaires, armed gangs have nearly 12,000 members, of whom 3,000 have weapons of war, often more sophisticated than national security forces.
These criminal groups would exercise extensive territorial control, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, paralyzing economic activities, blocking strategic roads and impeding the normal functioning of public institutions. This armed grip contributes to the collapse of state authority and the government's inability to ensure the security of citizens.
U.S. senators expressed concern about the regional consequences of this crisis, highlighting the increased risks of illicit trafficking in arms, drugs and forced migration. They also pointed to weak border control mechanisms and the illicit flow of arms from abroad.
These figures revive the debate on the urgency of a coordinated international response, combining security support, institutional strengthening and sustainable political solutions. For many observers, without a rapid restoration of law and order and the legitimacy of the state, Haiti could sink deeper into a spiral of violence that is difficult to reverse.
W.A.
