Haiti's Gang Violence Continues Despite International Efforts to Restore Peaceful Transition of Power

Port-au-Prince, Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Haiti is a country in the Caribbean that has been plagued by gang violence and organized crime for decades.
International organizations such as CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and the United States have implemented a transitional governance arrangement that aims for a peaceful transition of power in Haiti, but this has not stopped the violence or crime in the country.
The government of Haiti, led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, struggles to maintain law and order as gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince's capital city.
Haiti's Gang Violence Continues Despite International Efforts to Restore Peaceful Transition of Power

Haiti is a country in the Caribbean that has been plagued by gang violence and organized crime for decades. The government of Haiti, led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, has struggled to maintain law and order as gangs control 80% of Port-au-Prince's capital city. The diplomatic response from international organizations such as CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and the United States includes a transitional governance arrangement that aims for a peaceful transition of power, but this has not stopped the violence or crime in Haiti. In recent weeks, there have been attacks on upscale neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince where at least 12 people were killed nearby during gang attacks. The latest attack took place on March 18th and resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen people.


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Confidence

70%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the transitional governance arrangement will actually lead to a peaceful transition of power.
  • The effectiveness of international efforts to combat gang violence and organized crime in Haiti remains uncertain.

Sources

77%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Gangs unleash new attacks on upscale areas in Haiti's capital, with at least a dozen killed nearby

The Associated Press News Monday, 18 March 2024 15:21
  • Unique Points
    • Gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital on Monday.
    • At least a dozen people were killed nearby during the attacks.
  • Accuracy
    • Gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital on Monday.
    • The bodies of at least 12 men strewn on the streets of Pétionville, located just below the mountainous communities of Laboule and Thomassin.
    • One victim was lying face up on the street surrounded by a scattered deck of cards and another found face down inside a pick-up truck known as a tap-tap that operates as a taxi.
    • A woman at one of the scenes collapsed and had to be held by others after learning that a relative of hers was killed.
    • Gangs have long opposed Prime Minister Ariel Henry, saying he was never elected by the people as they blame him for deepening poverty, but critics of gangs accuse them of trying to seize power for themselves or for unidentified Haitian politicians.
    • Haiti's power company announced that four substations in the capital and elsewhere were destroyed and rendered completely dysfunctional on Monday.
    • Swaths of Port-au-Prince were without power, including the Cite Soleil slum, the Croix-des-Bouquets community and a hospital.
    • The company said criminals also seized important documents, cables, inverters, batteries and other items.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that 'gunmen looted homes' but does not provide any evidence of this or mention it again throughout the article. This statement implies a level of violence and destruction that was not actually present in the attack. Secondly, when describing one victim who was found face down inside a pick-up truck known as a tap-tap, the author uses sensational language by saying 'a woman at one of the scenes collapsed and had to be held by others after learning that a relative of hers was killed'. This is not accurate as there is no mention in the article about any family connection between this victim and anyone else. Lastly, when describing some residents calling radio stations pleading for police, it implies that these people were directly affected by the attack but does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
    • The statement 'some residents called radio stations pleading for police' implies that these people were directly affected by the attack but does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
    • The statement 'gunmen looted homes' is deceptive as there is no mention of this in the article and it implies a level of violence and destruction that was not actually present in the attack.
    • The use of sensational language when describing one victim who was found face down inside a pick-up truck known as a tap-tap, such as 'a woman at one of the scenes collapsed and had to be held by others after learning that a relative of hers was killed' is deceptive as there is no mention in the article about any family connection between this victim and anyone else.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the attacks as a 'rampage' and using phrases such as 'abuse! This is abuse!' and 'people of Haiti wake up'. Additionally, the author appeals to authority by quoting people without providing any context or information about their expertise. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction when it describes Laboule and Thomassin as peaceful neighborhoods despite recent violent attacks in Port-au-Prince.
    • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the attacks as a 'rampage'
    • An ambulance arrived shortly afterward and made its way through Pétionville, collecting the victims
    • The most recent attacks raised concerns that gang violence would not cease despite Prime Minister Ariel Henry announcing nearly a week ago that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created
  • Bias (80%)
    The article reports on a recent attack by gangs in Haiti's capital that resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen people. The author uses language that demonizes and dehumanizes the gang members, referring to them as 'abusers'. Additionally, there is no mention of any counter-narrative or alternative perspectives on this issue.
    • A relative of one of the victims hugged a young boy close to his chest, with his head turned away from the scene.
      • Gunsmen looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise
        • One was lying face up on the street surrounded by a scattered deck of cards and another found face down inside a pick-up truck known as a tap-tap that operates as a taxi.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        66%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Opinion: Why gangs hold so much power in Haiti

        CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Friday, 15 March 2024 11:42
        • Unique Points
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Accuracy
          • The article is an opinion piece by Garry Pierre-Pierre.
          • Haiti is experiencing unthinkable upheaval with people being forced from their homes by roving bands of gunmen, no police protection, and an outnumbered and outgunned army.
          • There is little indication that peace and stability are on the horizon for Haiti.
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing their own background and expertise on the topic of Haiti's gang violence. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the graphic images of people being forced from their homes and dodging bullets in the streets, which can be seen as a form of emotional manipulation. Additionally, there is an example of a dichotomous depiction when the author describes Haiti as
          • The last few weeks have brought unthinkable upheaval in Haiti
          • ,
        • Bias (85%)
          The article is biased towards the author's personal experience and perspective. The author uses their own background as a Haitian immigrant to frame the article in a way that emphasizes the violence and instability in Haiti. They also use language such as 'brutality' and 'periodic spasms of unrest' which is highly subjective.
          • The author states that nothing can compare to the current upheaval in Haiti, implying their own personal experience is more significant than others.
            • The author uses their own background as a Haitian immigrant to frame the article in a way that emphasizes the violence and instability in Haiti. They also use language such as 'brutality' and 'periodic spasms of unrest' which is highly subjective.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author is a journalist who has won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on violent events and is affiliated with an organization that focuses on community and ethnic media.
              • The author, Garry Pierre-Pierre, won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for reporting on the first World Trade Center bombing. This suggests a bias towards violent events.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              77%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              At least 12 bodies found after gang attacks in upscale Haiti suburb

              Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Monday, 18 March 2024 18:58
              • Unique Points
                • Gang attacks in upscale Haiti suburb
                • At least a dozen people were killed nearby during the attacks.
                • The neighborhoods had remained largely peaceful despite a surge in violent gang attacks across Port-au-Prince that began on Feb. 29.
              • Accuracy
                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
              • Deception (50%)
                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that at least 12 bodies have been removed by ambulance from Petion-Ville on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince as tensions simmer pending the announcement of a new government. However, there are no details about who these victims were or what led to their deaths. Secondly, the article reports that gunmen looted homes in Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise on Monday but does not provide any information about how many people were affected by this incident or if anyone was injured. Thirdly, the author states that residents are facing worsening shortages of food and medical care without providing any specific details about these shortages or who is responsible for them. Lastly, the article reports on power outages in Port-au-Prince but does not provide any information about how long these outages have been going on or if there are plans to fix them.
                • The author claims that at least 12 bodies have been removed by ambulance from Petion-Ville on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince as tensions simmer pending the announcement of a new government. However, there are no details about who these victims were or what led to their deaths.
                • The article reports that gunmen looted homes in Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise on Monday but does not provide any information about how many people were affected by this incident or if anyone was injured.
              • Fallacies (75%)
                The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the gang attacks as a 'battle' and threatening politicians who join the transition council. Additionally, there are appeals to authority from sources such as Al Jazeera and news agencies that may not be entirely reliable or unbiased.
                • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the gang attacks as a 'battle'
                • There are appeals to authority from sources such as Al Jazeera and news agencies
              • Bias (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                Al Jazeera has a conflict of interest on the topic of Port-au-Prince and Haiti as they are based in Qatar which is heavily involved in arms trade with Haiti. Additionally, Al Jazeera's coverage may be influenced by their humanitarian component which could lead to bias towards certain groups or individuals.
                • Port-au-Prince is in a bubble right now
                  • security

                  80%

                  The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                  (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                  A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                  Opinion | The fight in Haiti isn't as simple as gangs vs. government

                  MSNBC News Monday, 18 March 2024 19:05
                  • Unique Points
                    • Gang members claim control of 80% of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince.
                    • The diplomatic and political responses once again attempt to implement a system of governance that ignores the power dynamics at play in Haiti.
                  • Accuracy
                    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                  • Deception (50%)
                    The article does not disclose sources and quotes from unnamed officials. The author editorializes by using phrases like 'on paper', 'in reality' and 'once again'. There is emotional manipulation through the use of words such as 'undemocratic values', 'corruption' and violence. Sensationalism is used in describing Haiti as facing a humanitarian crisis with people dying, displacement, lack of access to basic needs like water and healthcare.
                    • Haitians took to the streets on Feb. 7...to demand Henry’s resignation, a demonstration symbolically timed for what should have been Inauguration Day for a new leader.
                    • On paper, the formal resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry...should pave the way for a transitional council
                    • In reality, with gang members claiming control of 80% of Haiti’s capital...these diplomatic and political responses once again attempt to implement a system of governance that ignores the power dynamics at play.
                    • Even the designation of Ariel Henry as the most recent prime minister was rooted in violence and undemocratic values
                    • Henry found himself on the wrong side of a narrative about national pride and identity.
                  • Fallacies (80%)
                    The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the transitional governance arrangement will pave the way for a peaceful transition of power in Haiti. This statement assumes that CARICOM and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are experts on Haitian politics, which may not be true. Additionally, this statement ignores the fact that gang members claim control over 80% of Port-au-Prince, indicating a lack of authority in the country. The second fallacy is an appeal to emotion when it states that Henry was painted in social media posts as welcoming a foreign military invasion and Cherizier fashions himself as the voice of the streets and leader of a revolution. This statement uses emotional language without providing evidence or context, making it difficult for readers to evaluate its validity. The third fallacy is an appeal to authority when it states that Haiti is undoubtedly facing a humanitarian crisis and that outside organizations are working on solutions. While this may be true, the article does not provide any evidence of these claims beyond general statements from CARICOM and other sources.
                    • The transitional governance arrangement will pave the way for a peaceful transition of power in Haiti.
                  • Bias (85%)
                    The author demonstrates bias by depicting the gang leader Jimmy Cherizier as a freedom fighter against a corrupt regime and blaming the international community's support for Prime Minister Ariel Henry for taking Haiti to civil war. The author also implies that democratic ideals do not determine who gets recognized as a leader in Haiti.
                    • blaming the international community’s support for Henry ‘for taking us to a civil war.’
                      • gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former special operations police officer who now leads a federation of gangs, has put himself in the role of freedom fighter against a corrupt regime
                        • The author implies that democratic ideals do not determine who gets recognized as a leader in Haiti by stating 'Democratic ideals don’t determine who gets recognized as a leader.'
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication

                        76%

                        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                        How the gang leader ‘Barbecue’ became one of Haiti’s most powerful men

                        The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Adela Suliman, Thursday, 14 March 2024 18:16
                        • Unique Points
                          • Jimmy Chérizier is a powerful gang leader in Haiti who rose to prominence after the country's political vacuum.
                          • Chérizier has been accused of leading massacres and violence, extortion, and blocking port terminals which have crippled Haiti's economy.
                        • Accuracy
                          No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                        • Deception (70%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Fallacies (85%)
                          The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority by portraying himself as a savior of the streets in Haiti. He also makes false claims about his leadership role in the country's political chaos, such as claiming that he is responsible for forming a new government coalition and lambasting international leaders who support Henry. The author uses dichotomous depictions by portraying himself as both a champion of social justice and a violent gang leader. He also makes false claims about his role in the country's economic crisis, such as claiming that he is responsible for crippling Haiti's economy through extortion and blocking port terminals.
                          • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that Henry will be forced to resign if he does not step down. This statement is an example of a false dilemma fallacy, as it presents only two options: either Henry steps down or there will be violence and chaos in Haiti.
                          • The author claims that he has formed a new government coalition with other gang leaders. However, this claim is unsupported by any evidence presented in the article. This statement is an example of a false cause fallacy, as it suggests that the formation of this coalition was solely due to Chérizier's efforts.
                          • The author claims that he has been sanctioned for human rights abuses and extortion by both the United States and the United Nations. However, these claims are not supported by any evidence presented in the article. This statement is an example of a false cause fallacy, as it suggests that Chérizier's actions directly contributed to Haiti's economic crisis.
                          • The author uses dichotomous depictions by portraying himself as both a champion of social justice and a violent gang leader. This statement is an example of a false dilemma fallacy, as it presents only two options: either Chérizier is fighting for the rights of the people or he is committing violence against them.
                          • The author claims that Henry's resignation will lead to a genocide in Haiti. This statement is an example of a false cause fallacy, as it suggests that there will be a direct correlation between Henry stepping down and genocide occurring.
                        • Bias (85%)
                          The article portrays Jimmy Chérizier as a powerful and influential figure in Haiti's political chaos. The author describes him as a charismatic leader who has united several of Port-au-Prince's warring gangs to take control of much of the city and demand embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down. Chérizier is accused of crippling Haiti's economy through extortion and blocking port terminals, his alleged leadership of and participation in slum massacres and violence have left him feared at home, sanctioned internationally, and his gang's most frequent victims are the poor residents and small business owners of the slums he controls. The article also describes Chérizier as a savior of the streets in Haiti's beleaguered Caribbean nation. However, it is important to note that this portrayal may not be entirely accurate or unbiased, and there may be other perspectives on his actions and motivations.
                          • The article describes Jimmy Chérizier as a savior of the streets in Haiti's beleaguered Caribbean nation.
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            Adela Suliman and Widlore Mérancourt have a conflict of interest on the topic of gang leader Jimmy Chérizier as they are reporting on him in their article. They also have a conflict of interest on the topics related to Haiti's political vacuum, powerful men, slum massacres and violence, poor residents and small business owners controlled by Port-au-Prince gangs unification , transitional presidential council interim leader U.N.-approved Kenya-led security force for Haiti YouTube powder blue three piece suit Ariel Henry Carlos Solar.
                            • Adela Suliman is a member of the National Union of Journalists (UNJ) in Canada, which has been criticized by some for its ties to the Communist Party. The UNJ has also been accused of supporting left-wing political causes and being sympathetic to revolutionary movements.
                              • The article mentions Port-au-Prince gangs unification , which is a topic related to Haiti's political vacuum. The authors do not disclose any conflicts of interest on this topic.
                                • Widlore Mérancourt is a former journalist who worked for Al Jazeera's French language channel, France 24. In 2018, he was fired from his job after the network came under criticism for its coverage of the Syrian civil war and allegations that it had ties to extremist groups.
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of gang leader Jimmy Chérizier and Haiti. The article mentions that he is a charismatic leader who controls slums through extortion and violence, but does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships with him.
                                  • The article mentions that Jimmy Chérizier controls slums through extortion and violence, but does not provide any details on how he is able to do so or what the impact of this control has been.
                                    • The author describes Jimmy Chérizier as a 'charismatic leader' without providing any context for his leadership style.