The Multinational Security Support (MSS) has been intensifying its operations in Haiti. They claimed to have recaptured the country’s international airport, the General Hospital, and strategic critical gangs’ strongholds of the capital. However, the force faces challenges that conventional wisdom posits that increases of funds and boots on the ground may resolve. However, the situation is not merely a matter of funding, firepower, or combat expertise. While these elements are critical in any military operation, they are irrelevant without a comprehensive strategy for collaboration, intelligence gathering, and community engagement.
1. Strengthen Strategic Collaboration with the PNH
The PNH is not just another law enforcement agency; it is an institution that understands the Haiti’s social fabric and the dynamics of its neighborhoods. The MSS’s advanced weaponry and training will be most effective when utilized in conjunction with the local knowledge and experience of the PNH.
Collaboration with the PNH would ensure that operations are effective, culturally sensitive, and strategically sound. The PNH has established relationships within communities, and their involvement can help mitigate the risk of alienating the local population. Moreover, this partnership will aid in building a sustainable security framework that can persist long after the MSS’s mission ends.
2. Reintegrate Arrested Bandits as Spies or Confidential Informants (CIs)
Traditional approaches to law enforcement, which focus solely on apprehension and incarceration, are inadequate in the Haitian context. Haiti’s gangs are deeply embedded in the socio-economic landscape, and a purely punitive approach can often exacerbate tensions. Instead, the MSS should consider reintegrating arrested bandits into their respective gangs as spies or Confidential Informants (CIs).
This approach leverages the deep connections these individuals have within their organizations. The MSS would gather invaluable intelligence on gang operations, hierarchies, and plans by turning former adversaries into assets. This intelligence is crucial for preempting criminal activities and dismantling gangs from within. It’s a strategy successfully employed in counter-insurgency operations worldwide and could be a game-changer for Haiti.
3. Facilitate the Creation of Neighborhood Watch Programs
The battle for security in Haiti cannot be won without the active participation of its citizens. The MSS should work to empower local communities by facilitating the creation of neighborhood watch programs. These programs would not merely monitor and report suspicious activities, but also restore the population’s sense of agency and ownership.
Neighborhood watch programs would deter criminal activity by creating a hostile environment for gangs. When communities are vigilant and organized, it becomes significantly more difficult for gangs to operate with impunity. Moreover, these programs would bridge the MSS and the local population, fostering trust and cooperation. The involvement of ordinary citizens in security efforts would provide the MSS with real-time, on-the-ground intelligence vital for their operations.
The challenges facing the MSS in Haiti require more than conventional military solutions. While funding, effective weaponry, and urban fighting expertise are essential, they are not enough to achieve lasting success. The key to overcoming Haiti’s security challenges lies in strategic collaboration with the PNH, innovative intelligence-gathering through the reintegration of former gang members, and the empowerment of local communities through neighborhood watch programs.
Bobb Rousseau
Retired U.S Army Officer