The 2025 U.S. Embassy Shooting in Haiti was an armed confrontation that took place on November 13, 2025, at the United States Embassy complex in Tabarre, a northern suburb of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The incident involved an exchange of gunfire between U.S. Marines providing embassy security and a group of armed assailants, strongly suspected to be local gang members affiliated with the powerful and volatile Viv Ansanm coalition. There were no casualties reported.
The skirmish unfolded amid the ongoing Haitian conflict and the wider Haitian crisis (2018–present), a period characterized by extreme political instability, a humanitarian emergency, and the near-total collapse of state authority, with criminal gangs controlling an estimated 80-90% of the capital. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Background
The existing political, economic, and social crisis began with protests across cities in Haiti on July 7, 2018, in response to rising fuel prices. These protests gradually evolved into demands for the resignation of the president, Jovenel Moïse. Led by opposition politician Jean-Charles Moïse (no relation), protesters demanded a transitional government, provision of social programs, and the prosecution of corrupt officials. From 2019 to 2021, massive protests called for the Jovenel Moïse government to resign. [6] [7] Moïse had come to power in the 2016 presidential election, which had voter turnout of only 21%. Previously, the 2015 elections had been annulled due to fraud. [8] On February 7, 2021, supporters of the opposition allegedly attempted a coup d'état, leading to 23 arrests, as well as clashes between protestors and police. [9]
On July 6, 2021, Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, allegedly by a group of 28 foreign mercenaries; three of the suspected assassins were killed and 20 arrested, while police searched for the other gunmen and the organizers of the attack. [10] [11] On July 20, 2021, Ariel Henry assumed the office of acting prime minister. [12]
In September 2022, further protests erupted in response to rising energy prices, and a federation of gangs created a blockade around Haiti's largest fuel depot. Combined with an outbreak of cholera and widespread acute hunger, the crisis led the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on Jimmy Chérizier, one of the country's gang leaders. [13] In 2022, Canada issued sanctions against three wealthy businessmen—Gilbert Bigio, Reynold Deeb, and Sherif Abdallah—whom they accused of "participat[ing] in gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti" along with numerous politicians including Michel Martelly, Laurent Lamothe, Jean-Henry Céant, Joseph Lambert, and Youri Latortue. [14] [15] A UN report to the Security Council in October 2023 likewise identified Martelly, Deeb, and Latortue as having ties to gangs. [16]
Since 2020, Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince has been the site of an ongoing conflict. The government of Haiti and Haitian security forces have struggled to maintain their control of Port-au-Prince amid this conflict, with anti-government forces speculated to control up to 90% of the city by 2023. [17] [18] [19] In response to the escalating fighting, an armed vigilante movement, known as bwa kale, also emerged, with the purpose of fighting the gangs. [17] [20] On 2 October 2023, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 was approved, authorizing a Kenya-led "multinational security support mission" to Haiti. [21] Until 2024, the war was between two major groups and their allies: the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies (FRG9 or G9) and the G-Pèp. [17] [22] [23] However, in February 2024 the two rival groups formed a coalition opposing the government and the UN mission. [24] [25]
In March 2024, violence spread throughout Port-au-Prince with the goal of obtaining the resignation of acting prime minister Ariel Henry, leading to the storming of two prisons and the release of thousands of prisoners. Henry was prevented from returning to Haiti after a trip intended to secure a peace-keeping force of Kenyan police to fight gang violence. [26] The power vacuum and chaos in the streets led to the scheduling of an emergency CARICOM meeting on March 11. [27] These attacks and subsequent attacks on various government institutions led the Haitian government to declare a state of emergency and impose a curfew. [28] The same day, Henry announced his resignation under pressure from protesters, gangs, and the international community, effective upon the naming of a new Prime Minister and cabinet by a transitional council. [29] Henry was replaced by Garry Conille on 3 June 2024. [30]
Background of American Involvement
The U.S. had been supporting international efforts to help stabilize Haiti, including its broad political and financial support for the Haitian police and the Gang Suppression Force since the beginning of the Haitian Crisis and gradually increased support since that time. [31]
In addition to providing support for the people of Haiti the U.S. has been under pressure to protect its own citizenry amid the gang war as several Americans had been killed of kidnapped for ransom. [32] [33]
However, on March 9, 2024, amid the violence spreading throughout Port-au-Prince the United States decided to evacuate all non essential personal from its Embassy in the capital, although it kept the Embassy open for the sake of American still in the embattled nation. [34] [35] As the staff evacuated the Marine Corps deployed a Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, to bolster security while the embassy conducts essential services. [31] After the deployment a representative from the CARICOM declared "U.S. Southern Command is prepared with a wide range of contingency plans to ensure the safety and security of U.S. Citizens in Haiti.". [36]
In October 2024, violence escalated to the point where a United Nations World Food Programme helicopter carry 18 passengers and crew was fired upon. A few days later, two U.S. embassy vehicles were peppered with gunfire by unidentified gang members, with one of the vehicles windshield shattering. These attacks, provoked the U.S. embassy to evacuate even more Embassy staff and deploy more Marines. [37] [38] It was unclear why in particular these attacks occurred, but it was noted that Chérizier had been making strange comments about the U.S. embassy. On the other hand, another gang leader and ally of Chérizier, Vitel’homme Innocent's Kraze Baryè had been battling with and the Haitian police and the Kenya-led security mission at the time. In any case it remains unclear who specifically perpetuated the attack. [39]
On January 20, of the following year another U.S. armored vehicle was ambushed by Haitian gangsters with armor piercing rounds while traveling in between the embassy and the U.S. Stecher-Roumain housing compound. The attackers were waiting for the van to pass between in front of them in an alleyway, and then discharged their firearms when the van arrived. One of the passengers a who was the gardener for the compound was shot, but was taken to a hospital where he was treated for his injury. [40] The following day, a convoy of three consular corps vehicles were attacked by gangsters near Toussaint Louverture International Airport. Five of the people in the transports were injured, one was killed, and the only unarmored vehicle was set on fire and destroyed. [41]
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