Security in Limbo: Is the Haitian National Police at a Standstill?

Since the heinous assassination of the late President Jovenel Moïse, several transitional governments—those of Dr. Ariel Henry, the CPT/Conille, and the CPT/Fils-Aimé—have failed in the first phase of their mission: to restore national security in order to create the necessary conditions for holding a constitutional referendum and organizing general elections capable of re-establishing republican institutions.

Yet, a wind of hope had begun to blow among the population, which observed an increased police presence in certain arteries of the metropolitan area, as well as the launch of operations in areas known for lawlessness, shortly before February 7. These initiatives hinted at a clear desire for territorial reconquest. Today, a question persistently resurfaces in public opinion: what happened to the various operations that sparked this hope?

To general surprise, an apparent halt has been observed since the end of the mandate of the presidential advisors on February 7, 2026. Meanwhile, insecurity continues to spread in the metropolitan area, particularly in Delmas, where kidnappings for ransom are resurfacing. Other worrying signs are multiplying.

In Pétion-Ville, the city hall has suspended carnival activities due to insecurity. National roads largely remain blocked. Vast portions of the territory, particularly in the West, Centre, and Artibonite departments, are still under the control of armed gangs. Thousands of internally displaced persons constantly yearn to return to their homes, amidst a climate of uncertainty and fear.

The institutional landscape, meanwhile, seems frozen. The concentration of power in the hands of a timidly contested authority, supported by certain foreign diplomatic actors, fuels questions about current governance and the state's real capacity to coordinate an effective response to the security crisis. This situation gives the impression of suspended time, as if the political dynamic is awaiting a new agreement or an additional compromise, while the crisis worsens.

This apparent paralysis reveals a deeper ill: the predominance of power struggles over national priorities. While some political actors seem more concerned with power-sharing, the population continues to suffer the direct consequences of insecurity. This disconnect fuels citizen distrust and accentuates the feeling of abandonment.

Despite everything, the Haitian population maintains strong expectations of the Haitian National Police, this body entrusted with the mission to protect and serve. The hope for a restoration of order largely rests on its ability to regain the initiative. If the National Police seems to be in a paused mode today, the question remains: is this a deliberate strategy or the consequence of political and institutional instructions?

The immediate future of security in Haiti will largely depend on the answer to this question, as well as the authorities' willingness to finally place the protection of citizens at the heart of public action.