In a dramatic turn for the embattled Caribbean nation, Haiti is poised to receive nearly 200 private security contractors from Vectus Global, a firm led by the controversial former U.S. Navy SEAL Erik Prince. The move, first reported by Reuters on August 14, 2025, and later confirmed by the Associated Press, comes amid intensifying gang violence that has left the country’s government and police forces teetering on the brink.
The deployment, set under a one-year deal, is designed to help Haiti’s authorities reclaim territory seized by heavily armed gangs and to advise on restoring the nation’s battered revenue collection systems once the violence abates. Vectus Global, which began operations in Haiti in March 2025, has already been coordinating with a special task force led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, deploying kamikaze drones in the fight against criminal organizations.
Yet, the contract and its implications have sparked a firestorm of controversy and confusion within Haiti’s political leadership. Fritz Alphonse Jean, who served a five-month term as President pro tempore of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) during the spring of 2025, has publicly denied any involvement in the agreement. In a statement responding to mounting national and international scrutiny, Jean insisted, "No one in my office is aware of this contract. The persistent rumors on this subject raise serious concerns." He went on to warn, "The prospect of a long-term contract signed by the transitional authorities would in itself constitute a kind of challenge to state institutions."
Jean’s comments come at a time of transition in Haiti’s leadership. The new CPT President, Laurent Saint Cyr, took office roughly ten days ago, inheriting a political landscape complicated by the shadowy security deal and the ever-present threat of gang violence. Jean emphasized that any such contract should be subject to rigorous government oversight, stating that decisions of this magnitude must be approved by the Council of Ministers and be subject to a public call for tenders. "A negotiating committee must be formed to finalize a possible contract with the selected company," Jean explained, highlighting the need for transparency and adherence to Haiti’s regulatory framework, especially in matters of national security.
According to Reuters, Erik Prince claims that Vectus Global has signed a 10-year agreement with the Haitian government, not only to combat gangs but also to help design and implement a new tax system for goods entering from the Dominican Republic. However, Jean’s denial and calls for institutional process cast doubt on the legitimacy and permanence of such a deal, particularly given the transitional nature of Haiti’s current government. He pointedly noted that any binding contract would extend beyond his own tenure, potentially obligating a future, democratically elected president.
The Haitian government, for its part, has provided a slightly different account. According to HaitiLibre, Evergreen Trading System Limited—not Vectus Global—is expected to be awarded a 10-year contract (which has not yet been signed) to modernize customs and border services. This project, which would require private investment amounting to several hundred million dollars, is not intended to replace the existing General Customs Administration. The government’s contribution would be $14 million, with the remainder financed by private investors. Payments to Evergreen would be performance-based, and the contract would need approval from both the National Procurement Commission and the Superior Court of Auditors.
Meanwhile, the deployment of Vectus Global’s personnel is set against a backdrop of spiraling violence and humanitarian crisis. The private contractors, who will be drawn from the United States, Europe, and other regions, are expected to work alongside Haiti’s National Police and a United Nations-backed mission led by Kenyan police officers. This U.N. mission, however, has struggled to find its footing, with only 991 personnel on the ground—far short of the 2,500 originally envisioned—and just $112 million in its trust fund, a fraction of the estimated $800 million needed annually, according to a recent U.N. report.
The task force formed earlier this year, which includes certain police units and private contractors, has operated outside the formal oversight of Haiti’s National Police. Its use of explosive drones has drawn sharp criticism from human rights activists, who worry about the potential for civilian casualties and the lack of accountability.
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, head of Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, cautioned, "In the absence of a coherent, jointly led Haitian and international strategy, the use of private firms is more likely to fragment authority and sovereignty than to advance resolution of the crisis." His concerns are echoed by other observers who fear that the influx of foreign contractors could undermine Haitian institutions and further complicate an already chaotic security environment.
The stakes are extraordinarily high. Since April 2025, at least 1,520 people have been killed and more than 600 injured across Haiti, with more than 60% of the casualties occurring during security operations against gangs, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. Another 12% of deaths and injuries have been attributed to self-defense groups. The violence has displaced some 1.3 million people, compounding a humanitarian disaster that shows few signs of abating.
Much of the recent turmoil can be traced to the rise of Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang federation formed in September 2023 through the merger of previously rival groups, including G-9 and G-Pèp. The United States designated Viv Ansanm a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. The federation orchestrated a series of major attacks in early 2024, including raids on Haiti’s two largest prisons that freed roughly 4,000 inmates and forced the closure of the country’s main international airport for almost three months. The resulting chaos ultimately led to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The newly appointed police director general, André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, faces mounting threats from gang leaders like Jimmy Chérizier—better known as Barbecue—who recently issued a chilling warning: "Viv Ansanm has a military might that they don’t always show," said Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
Despite the dire need for more robust anti-gang operations, experts warn that bringing in private military contractors is fraught with risks. "There is a risk of escalating the conflict without having enough personnel to extinguish the fires that Viv Ansanm can ignite in many places," Da Rin observed, highlighting the delicate balance between security and escalation.
Complicating matters further, the U.S. government has distanced itself from the arrangement. A Trump administration official told the Associated Press that the U.S. has no involvement or oversight in the Vectus Global contract, nor is it providing any funding. Legal experts have pointed out that the deployment could violate U.S. law unless Vectus Global has explicit permission from Washington to operate in Haiti.
As Haiti stands at a crossroads, the deployment of private contractors, the ambiguity surrounding government contracts, and the ever-present threat of gang violence have created a volatile mix. Whether these efforts will bring stability or further fragment the nation remains to be seen, but for now, Haiti’s future hangs in the balance, watched closely by a wary international community.