Vatican City: As Haiti grapples with deepening instability and the stranglehold of violent gangs, Bishop Pierre André Dumas has called on Haitians to seek solutions rooted in their own agency and unity.
The country’s challenges are stark: armed gangs dominate urban areas, including the capital, Port-au-Prince, perpetrating crimes such as extortion, drug trafficking, and kidnapping. These criminal activities have left the Haitian population in a state of constant fear and insecurity.
The United Nations has called for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force to address the crisis, but despite acknowledging the worsening conditions, the UN Security Council has yet to reach consensus on such intervention. In the absence of effective policing, many Haitians have resorted to forming self-defense groups, further exacerbating the volatile situation.
“This is a dangerous and precarious time,” said Bishop Dumas, who serves the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau et Miragoâne, in an interview with Vatican News. He underscored how violence disproportionately affects the poor, who bear the heaviest burden of the chaos.
In response, the Catholic Church in Haiti has been working to reassure communities that violence is not the answer. It has focused on fostering spaces for dialogue, listening, and sharing to rebuild trust and a sense of hope among the people.
Bishop Dumas traced the roots of the crisis to widespread abandonment of children, extreme poverty, and a lack of familial support. Many children left on the streets without care have been exploited by politicians or coerced into gang activities. Over time, these young individuals turned to violence, resorting to kidnappings and other criminal acts as a means of survival. In some areas, youths are forcibly recruited into rival gangs, worsening the cycle of violence.
As citizens attempt to resist the gangs, the situation has grown even more unstable, with gangs becoming increasingly violent in retaliation. Bishop Dumas emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying causes, stating, “Family values, job opportunities for youth, and integral human development are key to resolving this crisis.”
The political instability in Haiti has also devastated vital sectors such as tourism, while externally imposed solutions have repeatedly failed to deliver lasting change. “We need to support the Haitian people, not decide for them,” Bishop Dumas urged. He stressed the importance of Haitians taking responsibility for shaping their future and laying a foundation for the next generation.
While acknowledging the UN Secretary-General’s persistent calls for international intervention, Bishop Dumas expressed doubt about Haiti’s ability to resolve the crisis without external assistance. He highlighted the urgent need for support to reform the police force, making it more effective in combating violence.
Bishop Dumas concluded with an appeal for international cooperation to help Haiti restore stability, rebuild dignity, and empower its people to take charge of their own destiny.