Former US Navy Seal’s Security Firm Deploys 200 Personnel to Haiti for One-Year Gang Violence Quell
In Puerto Rico, private security firm Vectus Global, led by former US Navy SEAL Erik Prince, is set to deploy approximately 200 personnel from various nations to Haiti under a one-year contract aimed at curbing escalating gang violence.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that Vectus Global’s mission will primarily focus on regaining control of territories seized by heavily armed gangs over the past year, thereby bolstering the government’s efforts to restore order. The company, known for its logistics, infrastructure, security, and defense services, is anticipated to begin operations soon.
The deployment was initially reported by Reuters. Upon completing their assignment, Vectus Global is also expected to offer long-term guidance to Haiti’s government on enhancing revenue collection capabilities once the violence subsides.
In June, Haiti’s transitional presidential council leader, Fritz Alphonse Jean, confirmed the engagement of foreign contractors by the government without specifying the company or the deal’s value.
Critics, such as Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, head of Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, contend that these operations might violate US law if a US-based private military firm is not authorized to work in Haiti.
The Trump administration has denied any involvement in Vectus Global’s hiring by the Haitian government, emphasizing that no US funding or oversight is associated with this contract.
Neither the office of Haiti’s prime minister nor members of its transitional presidential council responded to requests for comment. The private contractors will reportedly originate from the United States, Europe, and other regions, offering support to Haiti’s National Police and a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police officers struggling to suppress gang violence.
The underfunded UN-backed mission, which currently has 991 personnel and approximately $112 million in its trust fund, faces significant challenges, as it requires an estimated $800 million annually to operate effectively.
The upcoming deployment of private contractors follows the recent appointment of André Jonas Vladimir Paraison as Haiti’s new police director general. Paraison was previously head of security for Haiti’s National Palace and has been involved in a new task force formed earlier this year that combines certain police units and private contractors.
While there is an obvious need for increased anti-gang operations, concerns have been raised about the potential for conflict escalation without sufficient personnel to contain it. Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, has warned that the risk of further violence may outweigh the benefits.
The powerful gang federation Viv Ansanm, created in September 2023, has been responsible for numerous large-scale attacks, including prison raids and the closure of Haiti’s main international airport for nearly three months. This escalating violence has displaced over 1.3 million people in recent years.