Prince founded the controversial private military company Blackwater. Now, in response to an invitation from the Haitian government, he is leading a stand-by mission to Haiti to help address the country’s pervasive gang violence. Since March 2024, Prince’s crew has had boots on the ground. They’ve sent out hundreds of these combatants to serve in Stabilization Forces around the world. This initiative is a welcome answer to a troubling security climate. Since February, Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has been increasingly cut off from the rest of the country.
In February, heavily armed gangs turned the tables on the Haitian regime and took to the offensive, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The ensuing disorder has forced numerous Haitians to demand foreign intervention as they experience violence and turmoil of a scale they’ve never seen before. In a landmark development, Prince has signed an initial 10-year deal with the Haitian government. Yet, this deal helps to greatly formalize his operations in the region. His group promotes the slogan, “we don’t just advise, we act,” emphasizing an active role in addressing the escalating crisis.
This deployment has sent shockwaves across the U.S. and the world among human rights advocates and observers. Critics argue that relying on private military contractors to tackle Haiti’s crime issues raises ethical concerns and could exacerbate existing problems. Jake Johnston, author of “Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti,” has voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of Prince’s operation. He warns that continuing to outsource Haitian problems to foreign actors would short-circuit the building of local, national, and regional institutions that Haitians desperately need.
Johnston said he was particularly worried about the idea of using private contractors in such a fluid and hostile environment.
“What kind of a message does this use of private contractors send to … domestic forces that are under-resourced and feeling like they are not supported?” – Jake Johnston
Johnston pointed out the desperation felt by many in Haiti, stating:
“People are desperate for solutions, for help, for anything … People are willing to accept things they wouldn’t have been willing to accept not that long ago because of the desperation.” – Jake Johnston
Unfortunate as their worries may be, the United States, Europe, and now El Salvador are preparing to deploy fighters. They’re willing to join Prince to further his mission. This unprecedented collaboration represents a deepening response to Haiti’s security crisis and an expanding international response. For Johnston, that’s not what would make such interventions potentially successful.
“I can understand the level of trauma and desperation. But is this really a solution?” – Jake Johnston
The current situation in Haiti is an extremely complicated dynamic of humanitarian need and geopolitical strategy. Erik Prince is going to do this thing. How it addresses the ongoing crisis and the broader stabilization of the region will be under heavy scrutiny.