The severe gang crisis in Haiti did not occur suddenly. According to historians, investigators and international observers, the foundations of today's violence go back to the leaders of political relying on the use of armed groups to intimidate opponents, manipulate elections and protect their powerful interests.
Different governments and political actors have been blamed for their continued relationships with gangs, at first, allowing them access, providing them with resources, or politically supporting them in return for loyalty and control of restricted areas. Over time, these alliances led to the development of criminal networks that would be later quite independent and almost uncontrollable.
Meanwhile, political operations were used as a cover to continue illegal activities of armed groups as state institutions suffered from disintegration and people's living standards deteriorated. Kidnapping, extortion, arms trafficking, and the control of territories are examples of the kind of criminal activities into which these groups transformed. As a result, the gangs which are now in control of large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other regions have effectively reduced the role of the state.
In fact, the crisis has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes, has impaired healthcare, education, and commerce, and has created a humanitarian emergency that ranks among the most severe in the Western Hemisphere. International organizations still keep warning that lack of security is the most significant barrier to achieving stability and democratic governance in the Caribbean country.
Political analysts think that Haiti's case shows what can happen in the long run when armed groups are used for short-term political gains. A move that was initially intended to be a power consolidation strategy turned into a security crisis that every government that came after it has had difficulties in handling.
Although at present, gangs have a relatively high level of freedom in their operations, specialists believe that knowledge of their political beginnings is a must for a resolution of the crisis. According to them, peace that will last is a combination of implementation of not only stronger security measures but also accountable government, institutional reform and the breaking down of the networks that led to the rise of armed groups.
By the way, as Haiti is battling the rising violence, the country's story can serve as a warning example of how a politician's desire to achieve his/her goals even if only for the short-term can have a lasting impact for generations.
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