Port-au-Prince, Haiti — In a bid to strengthen its beleaguered security forces, Haiti’s transitional government announced plans on Monday to send 400 police officers to Brazil for advanced training, as the country continues to reel from unprecedented levels of gang violence and instability.
The announcement was made by Fritz Alphonse Jean, head of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, during a rare press conference convened for the international media. Jean emphasized the urgent need for specialized training, acknowledging the state’s limited capacity to protect its population.
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“Haiti is weak, and we need special training,” Jean said, referencing the dire condition of the country’s overstretched security apparatus.
Haiti currently relies on just 10,000 active police officers and 1,300 soldiers to serve and protect a population nearing 12 million.
Regional Training Partnerships
The training initiative is part of a broader international effort to bolster Haiti’s security forces. In addition to the 400 officers set to depart for Brazil in August, 150 Haitian soldiers have already been deployed to Mexico for similar instruction. In total, 700 officers and soldiers will undergo training in allied countries in the coming months.
Upon completion, the trainees will integrate into a Kenyan-led, UN-backed multinational security mission, aimed at dismantling the sprawling network of gangs that currently control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
Mounting Toll of Gang Violence
According to recent figures from the United Nations, more than 4,800 people were killed in Haiti between October 2024 and June 2025 as a result of gang-related violence. Thousands more have been injured, kidnapped, raped, or trafficked.
The violence has also displaced over 1.3 million people, with many forced into overcrowded schools and makeshift shelters. Jean noted that the government has begun distributing financial aid to some of these displaced individuals in an attempt to facilitate their return home.
Fragile Path to Elections
Jean, whose transitional council is tasked with organizing general elections by February 2026, acknowledged that escalating violence poses a significant threat to that timeline. Haiti has not held national elections in nearly a decade, and the political vacuum has deepened since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.
“We are doing everything possible so we can hold elections,” Jean said, though he stopped short of confirming a specific date.
As Haiti navigates its prolonged crisis, international support and internal reform remain critical to stabilizing the country and restoring democratic governance.
