Former Navy SEAL and founder of the private military company Blackwater, Erik Prince, has announced a ten-year agreement with the Haitian government to combat armed gangs and assist in tax collection. The initiative, led by his new firm Vectus Global, has sparked both hope and deep concern in the Caribbean nation, which is facing an unprecedented security and humanitarian crisis.
According to Prince, in comments to Reuters, Vectus Global began operations in March 2024 using drones and security teams. The project is now entering a new phase: several hundred American, European, and Salvadoran mercenaries — including snipers and intelligence specialists — will be deployed in the coming weeks, supported by helicopters and boats.
The stated goal? To regain control of major roads and areas plagued by armed groups. “A success for me will be being able to travel across Haiti without being stopped by gangs,” Prince told Reuters.
The contract between the Haitian government and Prince was first revealed last May by The New York Times, which noted that “although the United States is aware of Erik Prince’s activities, the deal remains opaque.”
An Unprecedented Role: Tax Collection
Beyond security operations, Vectus Global will also be involved in collecting taxes at border points, particularly along the frontier with the Dominican Republic — a vital source of revenue for Haiti’s cash-strapped state, now crippled by insecurity.
Financial details remain unclear: Prince has refused to disclose the amount his company will earn or what share of tax revenue it might retain.
Close to the current U.S. president, Prince has multiplied his security contracts since Donald Trump returned to office, notably in Ecuador and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“It is difficult to imagine him operating without the Trump administration’s approval,” said Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, an expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. However, the White House and the State Department deny any involvement.
Lingering Doubts
The effectiveness of such an operation remains uncertain. Other security companies have already failed in Haiti, such as Studebaker Defense, whose two members were kidnapped with the alleged complicity of corrupt Haitian police officers, according to The New York Times.
“Private military companies are not a sustainable solution,” warned attorney Gédéon Jean, director of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Haiti. “Their interventions often come with rights violations and divert funds that should strengthen local forces.”
A Population on the Brink
Amid famine, violence, and the collapse of the state, Haitians are desperate for a solution. The new president of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), Laurent Saint-Cyr, has called for “greater international support,” without explicitly mentioning Vectus.
Whether this intervention, led by such a controversial figure as Erik Prince, will bring stability — or further inflame tensions in an already exhausted country — remains to be seen.
