Security, Sovereignty, and Strategic Decisions: Haiti Faces the Challenge of the Gang Repression Force

This Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Montana Hotel, the Initiative Group for the Search for a Durable Solution to the Haitian Crisis held a symposium dedicated to insecurity and the Gang Repression Force (FRG), a new mission set to succeed the MSS. At the heart of the discussions were the state's security failure, the question of national sovereignty, and the political, institutional, and social conditions for exiting the crisis. For former deputy Deus Dorenneth, security cannot be treated as an improvised emergency. It stems from a foundational contract of the state, requiring vision, planning, and responsibility. According to him, Haitian insecurity involves powerful networks, both male and female, capable of lastingly influencing public decisions. He insists that thinking about security therefore means confronting structured interests, not just visible armed groups. Agronomist Jean André Victor, for his part, placed the debate on the ground of national sovereignty. He warns of a systemic threat: security, elections, governance—nothing can succeed without the central involvement of citizens. He directly questions Haitian society: will it remain a spectator in the face of the FRG, or will it choose to make it a lever for restoring public authority? Success, according to him, will depend on collective commitment. According to him, the international context weighs heavily. Between 2013 and 2024, the UN Security Council adopted more than 55 resolutions on Haiti, illustrating a lasting internationalization of the crisis. Yet, internally, the responses of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) remain vague. Questioned about the conclusions of their discussions with political and social sectors, its members struggle to formulate clear resolutions, fueling doubt about the coherence of the current governance. Humanitarian risks heighten the urgency. The hypothesis of widespread famine is no longer ruled out, underscoring the interdependence between security, economy, and public management. Five decision-making levers were put forward:

1. administer resources under international control with transparency;
2. better manage those falling under state control;
3. exploit abundant resources;
4. resort to technological shortcuts (provided electricity and internet are available);
5. and strengthen civil society.

Finally, former military officer Ashley Laraque recalled the principles of law. Neither society nor emotion should decide the fate of gang members: only the courts are competent, without distinction of gender. He also distinguished between gangs and terrorism, emphasizing that the fight must remain national and legal, without pretexts for security interference. Ultimately, the FRG will be neither a miracle solution nor a programmed failure. Its credibility will depend on a clear strategy, a responsible state, and a society mobilized for sovereignty, justice, and security. Jean Wesley Pierre / Le Relief