Spotlight on the Private Military Company Blackwater Operating in Haiti

The government is calling on a private military company to help it confront armed gangs, the New York Times reported in an article published at the end of last March. The news spread like wildfire in the country: more than 150 mercenaries are reportedly on a mission, using kamikaze drones as part of their operations. What do we know about this company? What is its history? Le Relief has delved a little into the subject. We will try to enlighten our readers.

Blackwater is an American company, owned by Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL officer. Formerly «Xe Services,» or «Academi,» Blackwater is now known as Constellis. It is an American private military company founded in 1997. But its reputation was built in 2003 during the Iraq War, becoming a major player in private security and military training, with the awarding of numerous security contracts for American diplomats and infrastructure.

Its founder, Erik Prince, aimed to create a private company specializing in the protection and training of security agents. However, Blackwater has also been involved in several controversies and scandals, particularly concerning the behavior of its agents in Iraq. Following these controversies, Blackwater changed its name several times (Xe Services in 2009, then Academi in 2011) to try and rebuild a more positive image.

Accused of using overly aggressive combat methods and not respecting the laws of war, the scandals involving Blackwater have fueled debates on the role of private military companies and their influence on armed conflicts.

Its name has been tarnished by several blunders and acts of violence in Iraq, notably the massacre of 17 Iraqi civilians in 2007. Indeed, in Nisour Square, Blackwater agents fired on Iraqi civilians. This massacre became an inflection point in the company's reputation.

Constellis, Blackwater's current name, continues to operate in the private security and training sector, with contracts in various countries, including Haiti. This is not the first time Blackwater's name has been associated with a security mission in Haiti. In 2019, amidst opposition to President Jovenel Moïse, former Senator Youri Latortue had denounced what he then called the presence of controversial Blackwater mercenaries engaged, according to him, by the former president.

While several national media outlets have already reported this New York Times article stating that the Haitian government has called on Blackwater, the Haitian National Police is making significant progress in the anti-gang fight. With issues of staffing, adequate equipment, retraining, or training in adapted combat techniques, are the Haitian authorities so desperate?

In any case, according to available data on the company, since 2006, Blackwater has been a veritable army of over 23,000 soldiers deployed in 9 countries and approximately 21,000 reservists. It possesses an air and maritime fleet as well as the largest military center in the world. It has developed surveillance equipment and has its own intelligence service.