logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
14m 35s

How is gang violence affecting life in H...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Haiti has been engulfed in a wave of gang violence since the assassination of the then-president, in 2021. Now an estimated 85% of the capital, Port au Prince is under gang control. The UN says in 2024, 5000 people died in the violence, which has left the country on the verge of collapse.

To combat the violence, the UN Security Council authorised a Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in October 2023. Funded primarily by the US, the Kenyan-led force deployed to Haiti six months ago has been tasked with restoring law and order. But there are questions over its effectiveness.

Nawal Al-Maghafi, a BBC investigations correspondent who has recently been embedded with the Kenyan police in Haiti, explains the situation there and how the country got to this point. Widlore Mérancourt, a reporter for the Washington Post and Editor-in-Chief of the Haitian publication Ayibo, describes how Haitians view outside intervention, after years of UN peacekeeping missions.

And we hear from young Haitian women, who tell us how their lives have been affected and what hopes they have for the future.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Nathalia Jimenez Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Josh Jenkins Editor: Emily Horler

Up next
Yesterday
Why flying can make you feel rough
Ever wondered why you might feel a bit unwell after a flight? There are lots of reasons for that - from dehydration, jet lag, cabin pressure and altitude. Last month, a French court recognised that cosmic radiation was a factor in a flight attendant’s breast cancer diagnosis. Stu ... Show More
9m 30s
Sep 14
Fertility and sport: When’s the best time to have a baby?
You are at the top of your game in your sport. Maybe you are the best in the world. But, you also want to start a family. For many female athletes, these two things happen at the same time - with careers often peaking when athletes are most fertile - the ages of 20-29. Can you do ... Show More
11m 59s
Sep 11
Why are more young Africans learning Russian?
Russia has been trying to grow its influence in Africa for years, with Russian paramilitary groups operating in countries such as Mali and Niger and Africans being recruited to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine.But it’s not just through soldiers and paramilitaries - Russia has now ... Show More
9m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
Why Haiti Asked for an Intervention
<p><i>This episode contains descriptions of distressing scenes. </i></p><p>Haiti is unraveling. Gangs control much of the capital, thousands have been displaced and hundreds more are dead.</p><p>In recent weeks, the government has taken the extraordinary step of asking for an arm ... Show More
31m 40s
Mar 2024
116 - Haiti: Cauldron of the Caribbean
As Haiti grapples with an unprecedented crisis, the spectre of state collapse under the weight of rampant gang violence has cast a long shadow over its future. The Caribbean nation, once a beacon of freedom and resistance, now finds itself mired in a power struggle that pits arme ... Show More
1h 23m
Aug 2023
Can Kenya solve Haiti’s gang violence?
Over the last few years there’s been a surge in violence between police and gangs in Haiti, with an eyewatering 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince under the control of gangs. The government has been calling for international intervention but its neighbours including the US ... Show More
19m 57s
May 2024
Inside Haiti's capital, ripped apart by gangs
For months, Haiti has been ravaged by out-of-control gangs, especially in the country’s capital of Port-au-Prince. But international forces are expected to arrive any day now, led by Kenya. Getting in and out of Haiti is dangerous — and for many, impossible. But CBC’s Paul Hunter ... Show More
21m 14s
Mar 2024
Revolution In Haiti
Haiti has been going through a rough couple years following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Since then, over 200 gangs have overrun the capital and the majority of the country, creating a major humanitarian crisis. On todays episode, we discuss the history o ... Show More
1h 29m
Jul 2024
Another Take: Can foreign intervention save Haiti from gang violence?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on October 4, 2023. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Since last year, Haiti’s government has been asking the international community for help to restore pea ... Show More
21m 53s
Jul 2021
What Led Up to the Assasination of the Haitian President
On Wednesday, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was killed in an attack at his home, destabilizing an already precarious situation in the country. For the past year, political violence has taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince, with supporters and opponents of the current governme ... Show More
37m 55s