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3d ago

U.S. Designates Haitian Gangs Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The State Department's action blocks assets, prohibits support, and aims to combat escalating violence and instability in Haiti.

A woman sweeps debris next to a blazing barricade set up by demonstrators during a protest against insecurity in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
A man carries his belongings as he flees home following attacks by armed gangs, many grouped behind an alliance known as Viv Ansanm, in the Poste Marchand neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Dec. 9, 2024.
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Overview

  • Viv Ansanm, a coalition of Port-au-Prince gangs G-9 and G-Pép, has targeted critical infrastructure, forcing the resignation of Haiti's prime minister in 2023.
  • Gran Grif, responsible for 80% of civilian deaths in Artibonite since 2022, has attacked Haitian police and international security forces, killing a Kenyan officer in February 2025.
  • The designations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists restrict access to U.S. financial systems and criminalize material support for the gangs.
  • The U.S. government cites these gangs as primary sources of violence and instability in Haiti, posing a direct threat to regional and national security.
  • This action builds on broader efforts to support Haitian security forces and international missions to restore stability and counter gang influence.