US Designates Two Haitian Gangs as Terrorist Organizations

Introduction to the Designation

WASHINGTON, CMC – The Trump administration in the United States on Friday designated two Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations.

“Today, I am announcing the State Department’s designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs),” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over.”

The Threat Posed by Haitian Gangs

Rubio, a former US Senator who was born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban immigrants, said Haitian gangs, including the Viv Ansanm coalition and Gran Grif, are “the primary source of instability and violence in Haiti.

“They are a direct threat to US national security interests in our region,” he added. “These gangs have killed and continue attacking the people of Haiti, Haitian security forces, and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission personnel, and are committed to overthrowing the government of Haiti.

“Their ultimate goal is creating a gang-controlled state where illicit trafficking and other criminal activities operate freely and terrorize Haitian citizens,” Rubio continued. “Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against these vicious groups and are an effective way to curtail support for their terrorist activities.”

He said engaging in transactions with members of these groups “entails risk about counterterrorism sanctions authorities, not only for Haitians but also for US lawful permanent residents and US citizens.”

Consequences of Supporting the Designated Gangs

The US Secretary of State said individuals and entities providing material support or resources to Viv Ansanm or Gran Grif could face criminal charges, inadmissibility, or removal from the United States.

He said the Trump administration commends “the extraordinary bravery of the Haitian National Police and all international partners supporting the MSS mission for their ongoing efforts to establish stability and security in Haiti.

“We urge all of Haiti’s political leaders to prioritize the security of the Haitian people, find solutions to stop the violence, and make progress toward restoring democracy through free and fair elections,” Rubin said.

“The United States stands with the Haitian people as they seek a secure, stable future for their country and citizens,” he added.

Rubicon said Friday’s actions “demonstrate the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests and countering these dangerous gangs.”

Profile of the Designated Gangs

The US Department of State said Viv Ansanm is a group formed in September 2023 as a coalition of gangs through an alliance between the two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital: G-9 and G-Pép.

It said the groups provide “a unified platform for criminal groups to use violence to destabilize Haiti and quash actions aimed at restoring state control.”

The State Department said Viv Ansanm has launched “coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure in Haiti, including prisons, government buildings, and Haiti’s main airport in Port-au-Prince as part of a campaign that, among other things, forced the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.”

The department said Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti’s Artibonite department, a region that is home to much of the country’s rice fields.

Since 2022, it said Gran Grif has been responsible for 80 percent of civilian death reports in Artibonite.

The State Department said Gran Grif had attacked Haitian National Police and the UN-authorized MSS mission, including in the February 2025 attack that killed a Kenyan MSS mission officer.

Implications of the Designation

“Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, denying them access to the US financial system and the resources they need to carry out attacks,” the State Department said.

“All property and interests in property of those designated today that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a US person are blocked,” it added, stating that US nationals are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.”

The State Department warned that persons, including American citizens, who engage in particular transactions or activities with these entities or these individuals “may expose themselves to sanctions risk.

“Notably, engaging in certain transactions with the organizations designated today entails the risk of secondary sanctions under counterterrorism authorities,” it said, warning that it is a crime to “knowingly provide material support or resources to these organizations or to attempt or conspire to do so.

“Moreover, terrorist designations can assist law enforcement actions of other US agencies and governments,” the State Department added.

Conclusion

The designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as terrorist organizations marks a significant step in the US effort to counter the threat posed by these groups. The move is expected to have far-reaching implications for the stability and security of Haiti, and to demonstrate the US commitment to protecting its national security interests in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What does it mean for a group to be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)?

A: A designation as an FTO means that the US government has determined that the group is a terrorist organization that poses a threat to US national security interests.

Q: What are the consequences of providing material support or resources to a designated FTO?

A: Individuals and entities that provide material support or resources to a designated FTO may face criminal charges, inadmissibility, or removal from the United States.

Q: How will the designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif affect US policy towards Haiti?

A: The designation is expected to demonstrate the US commitment to protecting its national security interests in the region and to supporting the stability and security of Haiti.