Haitian Gangs Recruit Starving Children for Armed Conflict, Report Finds

Haitian gangs are coercing desperate and hungry children into joining their ranks, preparing them for a protracted and violent confrontation with international security forces, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW). The alarming trend is a reflection of Haiti's deepening crisis, where lawlessness and poverty have created a breeding ground for child exploitation by armed groups that control much of the country.

Children as Soldiers, Spies, and Victims

HRW’s findings reveal that up to 30% of Haitian gang members are children, many of whom are forced into roles as armed fighters, spies, or subjected to sexual exploitation. Nathalye Cotrino, the report's lead author, highlighted how gangs have been recruiting minors in growing numbers. “All the sources we consulted, including children associated with criminal groups, told us that more children are joining the gangs and that it is in preparation to have more personnel available to fight against the international security forces and the Haitian police,” Cotrino said . She added that gangs are even preparing to use children as human shields in the event of direct military operations in their controlled areas.

 Haiti’s Collapse and Growing Hunger

Haiti’s descent into chaos accelerated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Armed groups now control large parts of the country, with 5.4 million people facing chronic hunger and 2.7 million, including half a million children, living under the oppressive rule of violent gangs. In some regions, children and their families are forced to choose between joining these armed groups or facing starvation.

In June 2024, Kenya deployed the first units of a UN-backed security force aimed at restoring order in Haiti. However, the lack of sustained funding and political momentum has allowed gangs to fortify their positions, anticipating drawn-out battles over territory. This has only worsened the humanitarian crisis, leading to further child recruitment.

 Massacre and Violent Retribution

Recent events highlight the intensity of the conflict and the brutal tactics employed by gangs. Last week, the Gran Grif gang massacred 70 civilians, including children, in the western town of Pont-Sondé. The gang's leader, Luckson Elan, stated the killings were in retaliation for the community’s failure to prevent vigilante groups and police from targeting his combatants. As a result of the violence, 6,000 residents were displaced from the agricultural town, which is now a warzone as rival factions fight for control of the region's valuable farmland.

 Social Media: A Tool for Recruitment

In their efforts to draw more recruits, gang leaders are utilizing platforms like TikTok to showcase glamorous lifestyles, flashy jewelry, cash, and women, that appeal to impoverished teenagers. Cotrino noted how these videos capture the attention of children living in severe poverty, many of whom are homeless and go days without food. “They see it as their only way out of misery,” Cotrino explained.

The children, often overlooked by security forces due to their age, are exploited as informants but also forced into committing heinous crimes like extortion, kidnapping, and even murder. Young girls, in particular, face additional layers of exploitation, being made to cook, clean, and offer sexual services to gang members.

 Voices from the Gangs: Trapped in a Cycle of Violence

In interviews conducted by HRW, children shared harrowing stories of being trapped in the gang system. A 14-year-old member of the Tibwa gang recounted how he was forced to participate in violent crimes. "Once, they told me to blindfold someone we were going to kidnap. When I refused, they hit me in the head with a baseball bat and said if I didn’t do it, they would kill me.”

This tragic reality has left children with little hope of escape, as the violent and coercive nature of gang membership often means that there is no way out once they are recruited.

 A Call for Action: Protecting Haiti’s Children

Human Rights Watch has called for urgent intervention to protect vulnerable children and help them demobilize and reintegrate into society. However, aid organizations on the ground face immense challenges in stopping children from being drawn into gangs. Haiti’s government services are barely functioning, hunger is pervasive, and schools frequently close due to the deteriorating security situation.

One aid worker at a Port-au-Prince educational center explained how children gradually get drawn into gangs. “Generally, the children start coming in with new clothes, like shoes or jackets, or with small amounts of cash,” the worker said. “They also start to withdraw from activities and begin to miss days, at first one or two, then a week, until they don’t return at all.”

The worker added that when they confront the children about their behavior, the response is almost always the same: “I have to support myself, and the gangs are the only option.”