The Haitian National Police reported a troubling increase in kidnapping cases as the new year began, with criminal gangs taking advantage of the political instability and reduced law enforcement capacity to escalate their activities. Reports of kidnappings for ransom came from multiple neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, with both Haitian nationals and foreign residents among the victims.
Security analysts linked the rise in kidnappings to several factors: the weakening of state authority during months of political crisis, the enrichment of criminal networks through extortion and other illegal activities, and the reduced operational capacity of the police due to resource shortages and low morale.
Community organizations in affected neighborhoods reported that residents were increasingly afraid to move freely, with many changing their routines to avoid known hotspots. Business owners reported paying informal protection fees to avoid being targeted, a practice that further enriched criminal networks.
Human rights organizations called on the government to prioritize the safety of citizens and to provide the National Police with the resources and training needed to address the kidnapping crisis. The UN human rights monitoring mission documented the cases and called for accountability for those responsible.