Haiti has suffered from gang violence for decades but the current wave of brutality escalated after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Gangs have taken control of large parts of the country, waging terror on residents and killing hundreds.

These gangs, with names in Haitian creole such as "Kraze Barye" (Barrier-Crusher) and "Gran Grif" (Big Claw), have over the last two years been robbing, looting, extorting, kidnapping, raping and killing.

The Kenyan government has offered 1000 police officers to lead a multinational force to Haiti to tackle the ongoing gang warfare.