Erik Prince’s secretive operation taking on Haiti’s gangs

Key Points:

• Downtown Port-au-Prince is being reclaimed by nature amid years of gang violence and political turmoil, with civilians risking dangerous gang territories daily to access parts of the city.
• Erik Prince, known for his controversial Blackwater past, has been contracted by Haiti’s interim government to lead a secretive Task Force using private mercenaries and drones to combat gangs in the capital.
• Despite some successes in halting gang expansion and clearing areas like downtown Port-au-Prince, gang violence and displacement remain severe, with over 1.5 million people internally displaced and high civilian casualties from security operations and drone strikes.
• Prince’s operations have introduced drone warfare to Haiti, resulting in over 2,000 strikes, which have caused civilian deaths and drawn criticism for potential violations of international law and lack of accountability.
• While Prince claims his approach is effective and cost-efficient compared to previous international missions, human rights advocates and locals criticize the slow progress, ongoing gang impunity, and the heavy toll on civilians.