Port-au-Prince Today: Gang Control and What There Is to…

Capital of Haiti, the first independent Black republic in the world, Port-au-Prince preserves the celebrated Iron Market in wrought iron and a wealth of artistic heritage linked to Haitian naïve painting, along with a rich musical heritage.

Not far away, at Cap-Haïtien, stands the Citadelle Laferrière, an imposing fortress built in the early nineteenth century and symbol of Haitian independence, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Since 2021, following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has undergone progressive state collapse, with armed gangs extending their control over much of the capital.

Various international estimates indicate that criminal bands control the majority of Port-au-Prince neighborhoods, including key hubs such as the port and international airport, closed multiple times due to clashes.

Kidnapping for ransom, widespread violence, and mass displacements have led the United Nations to authorize a multinational security mission led by Kenya to support Haitian police.

Virtually all Western chancelleries advise against any travel to the country, periodically evacuating non-essential diplomatic personnel from the capital.

In a context of normal security, Port-au-Prince would offer the Marché en Fer, naif art galleries, and a view of the Citadelle Laferrière, among the Caribbean's most imposing historical monuments.

The reconstruction of Haitian state institutions remains the indispensable condition for this heritage to become accessible again to those who travel.