Abstract
Over the years, numerous attempts have been made to establish stability in Haiti, including efforts by President Jovenel Moïse, yet none have succeeded. The power vacuum left by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 further fueled the recent widespread outbreak of gang violence. In the absence of both a trusted, elected president and a functional government, gangs have taken it upon themselves to fill this power void—particularly the gang known as G9. The leader of the G9 gang has used the assassination of Moïse as fuel to encourage his followers to engage in “legitimate violence” against the corrupt government and the rich, who have exploited Haiti over the years. This article argues that, on the surface, the Haitian gang G9 may appear to be nothing more than a disorganized group of criminals looking for a quick buck. However, a closer examination of their command and organizational structure, the intensity of violence they incite, and their clear territorial control suggests otherwise. Specifically, these characteristics may be sufficient to demonstrate that they classify as parties to a non-international armed conflict under international humanitarian law and are thus responsible for upholding its governing principles.
First Page
115
Recommended Citation
Grace
Paulson
Non-State Armed Conflicts or Criminal Activities? Haitian Gangs in the International Humanitarian Law Framework,
22
Loy. U. Chi. Int'l L. Rev.
115
().
Available at:
https://lawecommons.luc.edu/lucilr/vol22/iss1/6