Haiti's worsening crisis has moved beyond armed violence into a full-scale governance challenge, with organised criminal groups tightening their control over key institutions and economic activities, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned.
Presenting UNODC's 11th report on Haiti to the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Executive Director Monica Juma said the growing influence of armed gangs is steadily weakening state authority, disrupting governance and placing millions of Haitians at greater risk. She called for stronger international support to help restore security, rebuild justice institutions and return the country to constitutional rule.
Juma said the latest report shows the situation has evolved into a wider crisis driven by organised crime, making coordinated global action more urgent than ever.
"The report documents a significant shift in trends: armed gangs are tightening their grip on Haiti's institutions and economic lifelines, steadily replacing the authority of the State and holding both the government and communities hostage.
"This is no longer only a security crisis; it is increasingly a governance crisis driven by organized crime, with profound humanitarian, political and development consequences," Juma stated.
She said restoring lasting peace will require more than emergency security measures, adding that efforts must also focus on strengthening institutions that can uphold justice and prevent criminal groups from becoming more deeply rooted.
Before presenting the report, Juma travelled to Haiti and the neighbouring Dominican Republic on a fact-finding mission to assess the changing security situation and gain first-hand understanding of the challenges facing both countries.
She said the visit offered a clearer picture of the scale of the crisis and reinforced the need for coordinated responses that address immediate security concerns while strengthening the country's long-term institutional capacity.
According to Juma, rebuilding public confidence will depend on restoring the rule of law and supporting institutions that can maintain peace beyond the current crisis.
"The path to peace requires action on several fronts: meeting urgent needs today, including provision of security, while building the capacity of institutions that can secure tomorrow, such as the criminal justice system in order to restore the rule of law and prevent the entrenchment of organized criminal networks."
She said strengthening governance and justice systems will be key to preventing criminal organisations from expanding their influence while restoring trust between citizens and public institutions.
Juma also urged the international community to support Haitian authorities in reclaiming areas under the control of armed groups, disrupting criminal networks and improving border security through stronger regional cooperation.
"That means helping Haitian authorities to reclaim key territory, dismantle the criminal economies fuelling the violence, strengthen border management and regional cooperation, and restore trust between citizens and the State. Only by tackling both the symptoms and the root causes of the crisis can we help Haiti build lasting peace, security and the rule of law."
She said UNODC remains ready to provide practical support to help restore stability and strengthen Haiti's institutions.
Juma further appealed to Caribbean countries and the wider international community to provide the political backing and resources needed to stabilise Haiti, protect its people, restore livelihoods and support a return to constitutional governance.
Haiti, the Caribbean's first independent Black republic, has faced years of political instability, weak institutions, widespread poverty and repeated natural disasters.
The country's situation deteriorated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which created a power vacuum that allowed heavily armed gangs to take control of large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and major transport routes.
The violence has displaced millions of people, disrupted humanitarian assistance and essential public services, and delayed elections, leaving Haiti facing one of the world's most pressing security and humanitarian crises.