SUMMARY
Viv Ansanm has emerged as a violent opponent of the Haitian government, engaging in one-sided violence throughout the intrastate armed conflict. The coalition repeatedly targeted civilians in its efforts to assert power and territorial control.
Public statements from Viv Ansanm members explicitly justifying attacks on civilians are scarce. However, before joining forces under the Viv Ansanm banner, gangs such as G9 and G-Pep had already established a pattern of targeting civilian populations as a show of force. Tactics such as executions and sexual violence were commonly used to intimidate communities and achieve their submission through fear.
Some attacks, however, appear to have been motivated by personal vendettas or local beliefs rather than political goals. A notable example occurred in December 2024, when a massacre in the Cité Soleil neighborhood was allegedly ordered by gang leader Jean Monel "Mikano" Félix. According to reports, Félix believed that residents had used witchcraft to harm his son, prompting a retaliatory attack that killed dozens. This incident highlights how violence can be driven by deeply personal motives, compounding the already complex security situation.
Viv Ansanm employed a brutal range of violent tactics against civilians. These include the use of machetes and firearms to kill residents, often followed by the burning of victims' bodies. A common tactic during the assaults involved setting homes ablaze, often while civilians were still inside. Many people lost their lives in the fires, unable to escape in time. This included people with disabilities or the elderly, who could simply not flee. The coalition’s ability to coordinate across multiple gangs and access resources allowed them to carry out large-scale, high-impact operations, frequently resulting in substantial civilian casualties. In addition to direct attacks on people and their homes, Viv Ansanm targeted public infrastructure. Schools, healthcare centers, and courts were destroyed in various attacks against the population.
While Port-au-Prince remains the center of the coalition’s operations, Viv Ansanm’s violence has expanded into other areas, including the Artibonite department.
Viv Ansanm first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2024, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached at the end of March that year during a string of attacks in different communes in Port-au-Prince.
