PNH makes progress in downtown Port-au-Prince but faces consolidation challenges
Security forces in Port-au-Prince have made notable progress in efforts to reclaim territory in the downtown area, according to information reported by Le Nouvelliste.
For the first time in several years, armored vehicles from the Haitian National Police (PNH) carried out operations in Martissant last week. Authorities now reportedly control the routes used by public transportation vehicles traveling between Port-au-Prince and Carrefour—a decision that had previously been dictated by armed gangs.
Despite these gains, officials acknowledge that maintaining control in reclaimed areas remains a major challenge. A source cited by the newspaper said that consolidating the police presence in these zones is difficult due to limited manpower.
“When the police are present downtown, in Portail Léogâne and Martissant, criminals simply move to Avenue Christophe or Turgeau. They know the geography of downtown very well,” the source explained, noting that the police do not yet have enough personnel to maintain permanent control over the recovered sectors.
According to the same source, the situation often resembles a cat-and-mouse game. When gangs are pushed out of one area, they quickly launch attacks elsewhere, including along Charles Sumner.
In a statement released Monday, the Haitian National Police said it carried out a clean-up operation on March 22, 2026, targeting several streets in downtown Port-au-Prince. These operations took place on Avenue N, Fort Saint Clair, Rue Cameau, Grand-Rue, Rue Oswald Durand, Rue Monseigneur Guilloux, and Marché Salomon.
Police said a new security deployment has been established in the West-1 jurisdiction to neutralize the criminal group Viv Ansanm.
